Understanding the Association Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Problematic Smartphone Use: A Network Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundExisting research has demonstrated that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is associated with problematic smartphone use (PSU). However, little is known about how different IU components such as uncertainty-related beliefs, emotions, and behaviors may impact on different PSU symptoms.MethodsExtending previous research, the current study examined the specific associations between IU components and PSU symptoms via a symptom-level network approach. A regularized partial correlation network consisting of different IU components and PSU symptoms was estimated among 1,849 Chinese university students. We examined pathways and influential nodes (i.e. central components/symptoms and bridge components/symptoms) within the IU-PSU network.ResultsThe strongest pathway linking IU and PSU was between emotional reactions to uncertainty and coping-motivated smartphone use. Importantly, emotional reactions toward not having enough information (a reflection of emotional reactions to uncertainty) may act as both a central and a bridge component in maintaining the whole IU-PSU network.ConclusionsThe results are in line with the I-PACE model and highlight that PSU may be a coping response for negative emotions derived from uncertainty. Finally, the current findings highlight the potential of interventions targeting intolerance of uncertainty for reducing PSU.

The relations between different components of intolerance of uncertainty and symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

“…We found that IU2 "Frustration when facing uncertainty" may act as both a central node and a bridge node within the IU-Depression network. This replicated previous findings from networks involving co-occurring anxiety (24) and problematic smartphone use (25). These consistent findings support the notion that IU may act as a transdiagnostic risk factor for various psychological conditions (e.g., emotional disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, addiction, and eating disorders) and add incremental value to current knowledge by teasing out the specific component that may underpin the association between IU and psychological conditions.…”

“…Similarly, the heterogeneity of components that constitute IU has been observed in previous studies (22,23). And individual IU components have shown different connections with different symptoms of anxiety (24) and problematic smartphone use (25). Hence, treating IU and depression as unitary constructs (using sum scores) may overlook their relationships at the componentto-symptom level, hindering conceptual understanding of mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of IU and depression.…”

The relations between mental well-being and burnout in medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

“…Within the current network, node bridge centrality may help to understand the relative importance of each MW component in relation to burnout ( 56 – 58 ). Addressing the bridge node could deactivate the propagation path and reduce co-occurrence ( 33 ).…”

The relationship between dimensions of empathy and symptoms of depression among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

“…Fourth, non-probability sampling strategies were used in this study; probability sampling strategies are recommended in the future to yield an unbiased sample representative of the target population. Fifth, like other existing studies that examine how external field factors may act directly upon symptom networks (e.g., emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty) ( 17 , 23 , 26 , 52 , 53 ), we focused on one particular construct of the external field (i.e., empathy). Future research could add potential covariates (e.g., age, exercise, smoking, and chronic diseases) ( 50 ) into the model to further improve its validity.…”

“…Depression is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by various cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms (16). Emerging studies have demonstrated that predisposing variables are related differently to co-occurring symptoms (17)(18)(19)(20). Thus, it is plausible to assume that different dimensions of empathy may have unique symptom pathways to co-occurring symptoms of depression.…”