The different mediation role of habit features between intolerance of uncertainty and psychopathological symptom dimensions: A transdiagnostic perspective

Abstract

Background

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a transdiagnosed vulnerability for many mental disorders. Habit is a potential cognitive construct that links to intolerance of uncertainty and symptom dimensions. This study adopted a transdiagnose perspective to investigate the mediation effect of habit features between symptom dimensions and intolerance of uncertainty in a Chinese community sample.

Methods

We recruited 4102 Chinese adults age ranged from 18 to 67 (M = 26.9, SD = 8.01) to extract psychopathological symptom dimensions and explore the mediation roles of habit features.

Results

The study extracted three symptom dimensions (compulsivity, addiction and affective stress dimension). All symptom dimensions, IU and habit features were significantly related (p < 0.01). IU had a direct positive influence on all three dimensions (compulsivity: effect = 0.41; affective stress: effect = 0.58; addiction: effect = 0.13), it lso have an indirect positive impact via habit feature of automaticity (compulsivity: effect = 0.095; affective stress: effect = 0.062; addiction: effect = 0.050). Additionally, IU can positively influence compulsivity dimension (effect = 0.053) and negatively affective stress (effect = −0.026) dimension through routine feature of habit.

Conclusions

Higher level of IU can intensify symptom dimension by habit feature of automaticity, while habit feature of routine can alleviate affective stress dimension and aggravate compulsivity dimension.