Dataset Information

Attentional Control Moderates the Relations between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Symptoms.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), perceived attentional control (AC), and poor cognitive control abilities are risk factors for anxiety; however, few studies have examined their interactive effects in relation to anxiety. A more complete understanding of interplay between IU, perceived AC, and cognitive control could inform intervention efforts.

Methods

The current study examined the direct and interactive effects of IU and AC on anxiety in a sample of 280 community outpatients (M age = 36.01 years, SD = 16.17). Perceived AC was measured using self-report and cognitive control abilities were measured using a Go/No-Go task.

Results

Findings indicated a significant IU by perceived AC interaction predicting worry and GAD diagnoses. There was a positive relation between IU and worry/GAD diagnoses that was strongest among those with high perceived AC. Perceived AC was unrelated to cognitive control abilities, and cognitive control abilities did not interact significantly with IU. Cognitive control abilities were related to worry symptoms but not to GAD diagnoses.

Conclusions

These results indicate that at high levels of perceived AC, individuals with elevated IU report higher levels of worry, potentially due to the conscious use of worry as an emotion regulation strategy. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

SUBMITTER: Saulnier KG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8553219 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Attentional Control Moderates the Relations between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Symptoms.

Saulnier Kevin G KG Allan Nicholas P NP Judah Matt R MR Koscinski Brandon B Hager Nathan M NM Albanese Brian B Knapp Ashley A AA Schmidt Norman B NB

Cognitive therapy and research 20210415 6

<h4>Background</h4>Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), perceived attentional control (AC), and poor cognitive control abilities are risk factors for anxiety; however, few studies have examined their interactive effects in relation to anxiety. A more complete understanding of interplay between IU, perceived AC, and cognitive control could inform intervention efforts.<h4>Methods</h4>The current study examined the direct and interactive effects of IU and AC on anxiety in a sample of 280 community outp ...[more]

PMID: 34720260

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundIntolerance of uncertainty (IU) is considered as a specific risk factor in the development and maintenance of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Yet, researches have investigated the relations between IU and GAD (or worry) using total scores on self-report measures. This ignores that there are different components exist in IU and the heterogeneity of GAD symptoms. In the present study, we explored the relations among different components of IU and symptoms of GAD.MethodsA dimensional approach which take individual differences into consideration in different components of IU along a full range of normal to abnormal symptom severity levels of GAD were used in this study. Components of IU were measured by 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and symptoms of GAD were measured by Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Questionnaire. Regularized partial-correlation network was estimated using cross-sectional data from 624 university students.ResultsFour strongest edges are between components of IU, like "Unforeseen events upset me greatly" and "It frustrates me not having all the information I need". Two strongest edges are between symptoms of GAD, like "Being so restless that it is hard to sit still" and "Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen". Symptom "Worrying too much about different things" and component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" have the highest expected influences in the present network. In the community of IU, component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" has the highest bridge expected influence. And in the community of GAD, symptoms "Worrying too much about different things" and "Not being able to stop or control worrying" have the highest bridge expected influence.ConclusionsThis study reveals potential pathways between different components of IU and various symptoms of GAD. Understanding how putative risk factors such as different components of IU are related to symptoms of GAD may provide some references for related preventions and interventions, such as targeting component "It frustrates me not having all the information I need" may be more effective at reducing symptoms of GAD than targeting other components of IU.

Dataset Information

Attentional Control Moderates the Relations between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Symptoms.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Attentional Control Moderates the Relations between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Symptoms.

Similar Datasets

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