Intolerance of Uncertainty as a Central Influence on Social Media Use: A School-Based Program for Adolescents

Abstract

This study evaluated a classroom program to address Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in secondary school students in Australia. IU is a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor for a range of psychological difficulties. A universal classroom program aimed to increase student understanding of feelings of uncertainty and explored socioemotional factors that could influence behaviors when facing uncertainty. Classroom teachers in two high schools were trained to deliver an 18-lesson program under naturalistic classroom conditions. Relative to the control group, the intervention lowered IU at post-test, but not at a later follow-up. The only socioemotional outcome measure to demonstrate a concurrent change was social media use. Limitations of the study were associated with the naturalistic classroom intervention, including the high level of attrition. Future studies may need to address broader factors in the students’ context that could influence intolerance of uncertainty.