Roles of emotional reactivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and negative problem orientation on developing childhood worry

Abstract Although current literature has examined the associations between individual risk factors and the development of childhood worry, few studies have examined pathways including multiple vulnerability factors. The current study examined a specific pathway of risk towards childhood worry, examining the roles of intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation on the association between emotionally reactive temperament and worry. Participants were 76 children and adolescents between ages 7 and 13 and their parents, from a community sample. Parents completed measures of child temperament, and youths completed measures of intolerance of uncertainty and negative problem orientation. Mediational analyses were conducted to examine the pathway between emotionally reactive temperament and worry. Overall, the data supported study hypotheses, and the association between emotionally reactive temperament and worry was serially mediated through intolerance of uncertainty and then negative problem orientation. These findings suggest high emotional reactivity may contribute to the development of intolerance of uncertainty, which may contribute to the development of negative problem orientation. Children with high negative problem orientation may then acquire an increased propensity to worry. Results showing a specific pathway of risk towards worry suggest a targeted approach for intervention and prevention is likely to be most efficacious.