Abstract
In this study, relations among worry, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were examined in N = 89 participants with a trauma history. Both worry and IU shared significant zero-order correlations with each of the three DSM-IV posttraumatic stress symptom clusters. Partial correlations, controlling for the overlap among the symptom clusters, suggested that both worry and IU shared unique associations only with hyperarousal. Finally, and consistent with predictions, IU moderated the relation between worry and PTSS. When examining each PTSS cluster separately, evidence of the moderating role of IU was found only in relation to hyperarousal. More specifically, simple effects revealed that worry had a significant positive association with PTSS and hyperarousal only at high levels of IU. These findings suggest a specific risk profile of high worry in conjunction with high IU for the development and maintenance of PTSS, with particular relevance to hyperarousal symptoms. Conceptual and practical implications of these findings regarding common PTSD treatment approaches are discussed.
Published Version
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