Intolerance of Uncertainty Relates to Anxiety and Depression Through Negative Coping and Worry: Evidence from a Repeated-Measures Study

The linking mechanisms underlying the association between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and anxiety and depression still await clarification. The current study investigated how the prospective and inhibitory components of IU related to anxiety and depression through worry and coping style. A repeated-measures design was utilized. IU and coping were measured at the first time point, worry at the second time points, and anxiety and depression were measured at the third time point. The relationship between these variables was explored using structural equation modelling. Results revealed that prospective IU led to increased worry, which further contributed to elevated levels of anxiety and depression. Inhibitory IU led to negative coping, which perpetuated worry and further resulted in anxiety and depression. The present study suggested that worry and negative coping were intermediated vulnerabilities linking IU to anxiety and depression. Further, the current study provided evidence supporting the assumption that prospective and inhibitory IU had divergent etiologic trajectories towards anxiety and depression