Cognitive factors predicting checking, procrastination and other maladaptive behaviours: Prospective versus Inhibitory Intolerance of Uncertainty

Abstract

Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a cognitive construct which is strongly linked to psychopathology, particularly anxiety and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. IU has also been proposed to be linked to maladaptive behaviours such as checking and procrastination in uncertain situations. Additionally, two subfactors of IU have recently been identified, Prospective IU (Desire for Predictability) and Inhibitory IU (Uncertainty Paralysis). These factors may differentially predict approach and avoidance behaviours respectively, however research is lacking. This study investigated associations between IU subfactors and selfreported maladaptive behaviours. University students (n=110; 74.3% female) completed self-report measures of behaviours including checking, procrastination, general avoidance and controlling behaviours. We hypothesised that Prospective IU would be associated with checking behaviours while Inhibitory IU would be associated with procrastination. Procrastination was predicted only by Inhibitory IU, however Checking was predicted equally by Inhibitory IU and Prospective IU. The results provide the first evidence of a differentiation between the two IU subfactors in predicting maladaptive behaviours. Uncertainty Paralysis may be an important cognitive factor reflecting tendencies to freeze during uncertainty, which predicts both checking and procrastination. Checking behaviours may be associated with additional unwillingness to leave outcomes to chance. This research provides new information about specific cognitive factors associated with checking and procrastination and other maladaptive behaviours, which could potentially be targeted in interventions. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 Highlights:Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a cognitive construct strongly linked to anxiety.We investigated its role in maladaptive behaviors including checking and procrastination.Two subcomponents of IU differentially predicted maladaptive behaviors.Procrastination was predicted only by Inhibitory IU.Checking behavior was predicted both by Inhibitory and Prospective IU.

Seeking certainty about Intolerance of Uncertainty: Addressing old and new issues through the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Revised

“…For example, Prospective IU might drive several dysfunctional approach behaviors typical of GAD (i.e., worry) and OCD (i.e., compulsions), which are performed to reduce uncertainty/increase certainty; on the opposite, inhibitory IU would be more involved in disorders relying on avoidance behaviors to reduce exposure to uncertainty, as for example panic disorder, social anxiety, and depression [33, 34, 40]. However, findings from other studies [55, 89, 90] found that the two IU components were similarly associated with different symptom dimensions, consistent with the notion that people with high levels of IU might endorse both approach- and avoidance-oriented coping strategies to manage uncertainty and related distress but perhaps use them differentially in different situations. Consequently, the general trait IU is likely to have higher trans-diagnostic predictive utility than Prospective and Inhibitory IU separately [43].…”

Doomsday Prepping During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The internal consistency of the measure has been demonstrated across numerous clinical populations including those with OCD (Jacoby et al, 2013) as well as anxiety and depression (McEvoy and Mahoney, 2011). The IUS-12 has also been established as a reliable measure of IU in non-clinical populations (Fourtounas and Thomas, 2016). The construct validity of the IUS-12 has been demonstrated in several studies (Carleton et al, 2007;Jacoby et al, 2013).…”

“…IU is higher in those with OCD (Wheaton and Ward, 2020) and is also associated with subclinical obsessive-compulsivetype symptoms and need for control (Fourtounas and Thomas, 2016). Control may be particularly important as preppers display a large need to exert control over their environment (Fetterman et al, 2019).…”

Psychometric properties of the Brazilian Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale – Short Version (IUS-12)

“…[11][12][13] For example, the Prospective IU subscale seems to be more related to GAD and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms, while Inhibitory IU is more associated with symptoms of social phobia, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. 10,11,14,15 Evidence of convergent validity, discriminant validity, and factor stability has been established. 10 The IUS-12 exhibits a strong correlation with the IUS-27 (r = 0.96) and subsequent analyses with IUS-12 using large samples demonstrated the reliability of the two-factor structure.…”