Iannattone Sara, Toffoli Lisa, Farina Alessandra, Mento Giovanni, Bottesi Gioia
Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, Padova, 35131, Italy.
Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. Medea, Conegliano, Treviso, Italy.
Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol. 2025 Aug 5. doi: 10.1007/s10802-025-01355-5.
Research on Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) has predominantly focused on adulthood, with limited attention to children. However, examining IU during childhood is clinically important, as it can shed light on the development of early-emerging psychopathologies. Valid and reliable tools assessing IU in children are therefore essential. This study aimed to investigate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-Parent (IUS-P), a questionnaire for parents to evaluate IU in their children. 796 Italian parents (88.4% mothers) of children aged 4-10 years (51.3% boys) were involved. Other-report tools assessing IU, psychopathological features, and executive functioning impairments (i.e., cognitive inflexibility, impulsivity, difficulties in planning/organization, and emotion dysregulation) were administered. To investigate the IUS-P factor structure, we compared a one-factor model, a two-factor model, and a bifactor model. Measurement invariance across sex and age groups (i.e., 4-6 vs. 7-8 vs. 9-10 years), reliability, and construct validity were evaluated. The bifactor model outperformed competing factor models. Bifactor model indices suggested using a total score instead of separate subscale scores. Measurement invariance by sex and age groups was fully supported. Additionally, the IUS-P total score exhibited excellent one-month test-retest reliability. The total score also showed positive associations with psychopathological features and executive functioning impairments. These findings highlight the IUS-P as a reliable tool to evaluate IU in Italian children. The relations of IU with psychopathological dimensions and difficulties in executive functioning underscore the transdiagnostic nature of IU during childhood. The practical implications of these results are discussed.
对不确定性不耐受（IU）的研究主要集中在成年人，对儿童的关注有限。然而，在儿童期检查IU在临床上很重要，因为它可以揭示早期出现的精神病理学的发展。因此，评估儿童IU的有效且可靠的工具至关重要。本研究旨在调查不确定性不耐受量表-家长版（IUS-P）的因子结构和心理测量特性，这是一份供家长评估其子女IU的问卷。研究纳入了796名4至10岁儿童的意大利家长（88.4%为母亲），其中男孩占51.3%。还使用了评估IU、精神病理学特征和执行功能障碍（即认知灵活性、冲动性、计划/组织困难和情绪调节障碍）的他人报告工具。为了研究IUS-P的因子结构，我们比较了单因素模型、双因素模型和双因子模型。评估了性别和年龄组（即4至6岁与7至8岁与9至10岁）之间的测量不变性、信度和结构效度。双因子模型优于其他竞争因子模型。双因子模型指标建议使用总分而非单独的子量表分数。性别和年龄组的测量不变性得到了充分支持。此外，IUS-P总分表现出出色的1个月重测信度。总分还与精神病理学特征和执行功能障碍呈正相关。这些发现突出了IUS-P作为评估意大利儿童IU的可靠工具。IU与精神病理学维度和执行功能困难之间的关系强调了儿童期IU的跨诊断性质。讨论了这些结果的实际意义。
