Research measures of correlation between uncertainty intolerance and adverse life experience outcomes
Abstract
It is presented the results of a pilot study aimed at testing of a methodological toolkit for finding links between intolerance to uncertainty and the presence and consequences of traumatic experiences. The following set of techniques were used to collate the data: the D. McLaine’s Multiple Stimulus Types Ambiguity Tolerance scale (MSTAT-1), the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12, N. Carleton), the Adverse Childhood Experience score (ACE score), the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), the A. Beck’s anxiety and depression tests (BAI, BDI), the V. Boiko’s emotional barriers test, the F. Zimbardo’s time perspective test (ZPTI), the post-traumatic stress disorder symptom questionnaire according to DSM-5 classification (PCL- 5), the Heim’s coping strategies test. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software, version 25. Spearman coefficient (с) was conducted to analyze the correlation between variables. Analyses of 25 individuals sample confirmed the correlation between the intolerance of uncertainty level and the severity of negative emotional states, communication barriers, and signs of PTSD. The «Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale», a short version of N. Carleton (IUS-12) has shown its effectiveness. It is stronger than D. McLain’s MSTAT-1 questionnaire, correlates with the manifestations of negative affect and PTSD-like symptoms. The IUS-12, short version, may be more useful for the preliminary diagnosis of the risk of negative emotional states occurrence due to traumatic events after the adaptation and validation process is finished. Questionnaires for negative life events (ACE, LEC-5) were uninformative to find a link between the level of intolerance of uncertainty and traumatic experiences. The limitations of the study are related to the small sample size and the adult age of participants. A promising area of research is in further exploration the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and type of time perspective, more detailed participant differentiation by age and type of negative life experience
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