Psychometric Evaluation of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children (IUSC): Findings From Clinical and Community Samples in Iran

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined the psychometric properties of a Persian version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children (IUSC; Comer et al, 2009). Method: Participating youth ( n = 346) 8 to 18 years of age were nonreferred community youth ( n = 279) or youth who met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder ( n = 67) and their parents. Results: Across child- and parent-report data, confirmatory factor analysis supported a shortened 12-item version of the IUSC, and the confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed a theory-driven correlated two-factor structure of the IUSC-12. (i.e., prospective/inhibitory IU). Results further supported reliability and validity of parent- and child-reports of the Persian IUSC-12 via evidence of internal consistency, 4-week retest, significant associations with established measures of internalizing problems, and the ability of the measure to reliably distinguish the clinical sample from the community sample. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate sound psychometric properties of the Persian version of the IUSC-12 and provide additional support for the reliability and validity of the measure and its use in non-Western cultures. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for assessment, treatment, and study of anxiety and related internalizing problems in Iranian youth.