The impact of methodological and measurement factors on transdiagnostic associations with intolerance of uncertainty: A meta-analysis.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Meta-analysis of observational and correlational studies
PubMed 31678816 · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101778
What was done
A meta-analysis of 181 studies (335 independent effect sizes, N = 52,402) evaluating the strength of correlation (Pearson's r) between intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and eating disorders. The authors also tested moderator variables including clinical status, age group, sex, IU measure, and symptom measure.
What was found
There was an overall moderate association between IU and disorder symptoms (r = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.50 to 0.52), accompanied by high heterogeneity (I² = 83.50, p < 0.001). Small but significant moderator effects were observed between and within disorders. Effect sizes were not impacted by sample size.
Why it matters
These findings synthesize evidence across 52,402 participants, providing quantitative support for intolerance of uncertainty as a transdiagnostic feature across anxiety, depressive, and eating disorders.
Limits
The underlying studies are correlational, preventing causal conclusions regarding IU and symptom etiology. Statistical heterogeneity was high (I² = 83.50%), and the abstract does not report disorder-specific effect sizes or individual subgroup values.