Universität zu Köln

Appel, Helmut ORCID: 0000-0003-4233-6090 and Gerlach, Alexander L. ORCID: 0000-0001-6794-5349 (2025). Intolerance of uncertainty causally affects indecisiveness. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64 (3). pp. 806-816. Wiley. ISSN 0144-6657

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Abstract

Objectives: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is characterized by a pervasive negative reaction to uncertainty. It is a transdiagnostic risk factor for various mental disorders. Since decisions often need to be made in the face of uncertainty, IU is associated with indecisiveness, a dispositional difficulty in making decisions. Indecisiveness is also linked to a range of mental disorders. While IU is seen as a causal factor in indecisiveness, experimental studies on this assumption are lacking. Methods: In this pre‐registered, adequately powered study ( N = 301), IU was experimentally increased or decreased compared to a control group, and the effect on indecisiveness was observed. Indecisiveness was assessed in a situational context, focusing on two decisions that were personally relevant to participants. Results: The manipulation successfully affected IU. As predicted, increased IU led to more indecisiveness across both decisions compared to decreased IU. Exploratory analyses found that situational IU mediated the effect of the experimental manipulation on indecisiveness. Conclusions: The results are the first to demonstrate a causal effect of IU on indecisiveness, thus contributing to the explanation of indecisiveness and the role that uncertainty management plays in it. Moreover, they have implications for treating various mental disorders by highlighting the role of IU in the transdiagnostic phenomenon of indecisiveness.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Appel, Helmut UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4233-6090 UNSPECIFIED Gerlach, Alexander L. UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-5349 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-792901
Identification Number:	10.1111/bjc.12534
Journal or Publication Title:	British Journal of Clinical Psychology
Volume:	64
Number:	3
Page Range:	pp. 806-816
Number of Pages:	11
Date:	11 September 2025
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0144-6657
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79290