The relations between different components of intolerance of uncertainty and symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

Tingwei Feng; Lei Ren; Chang Liu; Kuiliang Li; Lin Wu; Xinyi Wei; Shangqing Yuan; Long-Biao Cui; Xi Yang; Danyang Li; Wei Yang; Ye Li; Buyao Wang; Hui Wang; Xufeng Liu

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.993814

The relations between different components of intolerance of uncertainty and symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis

Front Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 13:13:993814. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.993814. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Tingwei Feng¹, Lei Ren¹, Chang Liu², Kuiliang Li³, Lin Wu¹, Xinyi Wei⁴, Shangqing Yuan⁵, Long-Biao Cui¹, Xi Yang⁶, Danyang Li⁷, Wei Yang⁸, Ye Li⁸, Buyao Wang⁹, Hui Wang¹, Xufeng Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
² BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
³ School of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China.
⁵ School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
⁶ Department of Health Economy Management, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
⁷ College of Education Science, Changji University, Changji, China.
⁸ Psychological Counseling Center, Xijing University, Xi'an, China.
⁹ Clinical and Psychological Counseling, DongFang College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Langfang, China.

Abstract

Background: The relations between depression and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) have been extensively investigated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a lack of understanding on how each component of IU may differentially affect depression symptoms and vice versa. The current study used a network approach to reveal the component-to-symptom interplay between IU and depression and identify intervention targets for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A total of 624 college students participated in the current study. An IU-Depression network was estimated using items from the 12-item Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We examined the network structure, node centrality, and node bridge centrality to identify component-to-symptom pathways, central nodes, and bridge nodes within the IU-Depression network.

Results: Several distinct pathways (e.g., "Frustration when facing uncertainty" and "Feelings of worthlessness") emerged between IU and Depression. "Fatigue" and "Frustration when facing uncertainty" were identified as the central nodes in the estimated network. "Frustration when facing uncertainty," "Psychomotor agitation/retardation," and "Depressed or sad mood" were identified as bridging nodes between the IU and Depression communities.

Conclusion: By delineating specific pathways between IU and depression and highlighting the influential role of "Frustration when facing uncertainty" in maintaining the IU-Depression co-occurrence, current findings may inform targeted prevention and interventions for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; bridge nodes; central nodes; depression; intolerance of uncertainty; network analysis.