The contribution of intolerance of uncertainty to eating disorder pathology and anxiety symptoms in adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the contribution of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) to the level of eating disorder pathology and anxiety in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa (AN). The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12), the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Trait Scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to investigate this relationship. Participants were collected at Altrecht Eating Disorders Rintveld. The final sample consisted of 53 participants, we were able to examine the relationship between IU and eating disorder pathology in 44 participants and in 32 participants the relationship between IU and anxiety. In accordance with previous findings in adult studies, IU predicts higher levels of eating disorder pathology and anxiety in adolescents with AN. Uncertain situations had adolescents experience more severe eating attitudes and behaviors, and leads to more anxiety symptoms, like stress and discomfort. BMI and duration of illness did not have a significant influence on the correlation between IU and eating disorder pathology/anxiety. The current findings highlight the importance of IU as a construct in AN. To make treatment methods more beneficial, IU in adolescents with AN should be assessed and treated.