Exploring the Symptom Profiles of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Autistic Children

Amy Keefer; Vini Singh; Yeon Sik Jang; Leigh Alon; Madison Surmacz; Calliope Holingue; Stewart H. Mostofsky; Roma A. Vasa

doi:10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3

Exploring the Symptom Profiles of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Autistic Children

Amy Keefer, Vini Singh, Yeon Sik Jang, Leigh Alon, Madison Surmacz, Calliope Holingue, Stewart H. Mostofsky, Roma A. Vasa

Kennedy Krieger Institute

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a multidimensional construct involving maladaptive responses to uncertainty. IU is strongly associated with autism and anxiety, yet no studies have examined its symptom profile in autistic children. This study compares IU symptom profiles in autistic and NT children and in autistic children with and without anxiety using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children. Compared to NT peers, autistic children exhibited heightened IU symptoms in all domains, affective, behavioral, and cognitive; affective symptoms had the highest association with autism. Autistic children with anxiety also exhibited elevated IU symptoms in all domains compared to those without anxiety; behavioral IU symptoms had the highest association with anxiety. IU symptom profiles should be considered in assessment and treatment.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	121-130
Number of pages	10
Journal	Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume	54
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3
State	Published - Jan 2024

Keywords

Anxiety
Autism spectrum disorder
Intolerance of uncertainty

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology

Access to Document

10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3

Cite this

@article{3a66d4e988e54e05903622580b972cfc,

title = "Exploring the Symptom Profiles of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Autistic Children",

abstract = "Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a multidimensional construct involving maladaptive responses to uncertainty. IU is strongly associated with autism and anxiety, yet no studies have examined its symptom profile in autistic children. This study compares IU symptom profiles in autistic and NT children and in autistic children with and without anxiety using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children. Compared to NT peers, autistic children exhibited heightened IU symptoms in all domains, affective, behavioral, and cognitive; affective symptoms had the highest association with autism. Autistic children with anxiety also exhibited elevated IU symptoms in all domains compared to those without anxiety; behavioral IU symptoms had the highest association with anxiety. IU symptom profiles should be considered in assessment and treatment.",

keywords = "Anxiety, Autism spectrum disorder, Intolerance of uncertainty",

author = "Amy Keefer and Vini Singh and Jang, {Yeon Sik} and Leigh Alon and Madison Surmacz and Calliope Holingue and Mostofsky, {Stewart H.} and Vasa, {Roma A.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.",

year = "2024",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "54",

pages = "121--130",

journal = "Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders",

issn = "0162-3257",

publisher = "Springer New York",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the Symptom Profiles of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Autistic Children

AU - Keefer, Amy

AU - Singh, Vini

AU - Jang, Yeon Sik

AU - Alon, Leigh

AU - Surmacz, Madison

AU - Holingue, Calliope

AU - Mostofsky, Stewart H.

AU - Vasa, Roma A.

PY - 2024/1

Y1 - 2024/1

N2 - Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a multidimensional construct involving maladaptive responses to uncertainty. IU is strongly associated with autism and anxiety, yet no studies have examined its symptom profile in autistic children. This study compares IU symptom profiles in autistic and NT children and in autistic children with and without anxiety using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children. Compared to NT peers, autistic children exhibited heightened IU symptoms in all domains, affective, behavioral, and cognitive; affective symptoms had the highest association with autism. Autistic children with anxiety also exhibited elevated IU symptoms in all domains compared to those without anxiety; behavioral IU symptoms had the highest association with anxiety. IU symptom profiles should be considered in assessment and treatment.

AB - Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a multidimensional construct involving maladaptive responses to uncertainty. IU is strongly associated with autism and anxiety, yet no studies have examined its symptom profile in autistic children. This study compares IU symptom profiles in autistic and NT children and in autistic children with and without anxiety using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children. Compared to NT peers, autistic children exhibited heightened IU symptoms in all domains, affective, behavioral, and cognitive; affective symptoms had the highest association with autism. Autistic children with anxiety also exhibited elevated IU symptoms in all domains compared to those without anxiety; behavioral IU symptoms had the highest association with anxiety. IU symptom profiles should be considered in assessment and treatment.

KW - Anxiety

KW - Autism spectrum disorder

KW - Intolerance of uncertainty

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139755505&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85139755505&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3

DO - 10.1007/s10803-022-05744-3

M3 - Article

C2 - 36227445

AN - SCOPUS:85139755505

SN - 0162-3257

VL - 54

SP - 121

EP - 130

JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

IS - 1

ER -

Exploring the Symptom Profiles of Intolerance of Uncertainty in Autistic Children

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this