Intolerance of uncertainty and protective parenting: the mediating role of maternal appraisals and the moderating role of child health status

ABSTRACT This study examined how intolerance of uncertainty and having a child with food allergy relate to protective parenting. Eighty mothers of children with food allergy and 78 mothers of healthy children completed questionnaires assessing intolerance of uncertainty and parenting style. Mothers then rated vignettes of hypothetical parenting situations in terms of perceived uncertainty, threat, and negative affect and reported their likely parenting response. Results indicated that mothers’ affective and cognitive appraisals mediated the association between intolerance of uncertainty and protective parenting. Findings suggest that maternal intolerance of uncertainty and child health status may increase the risk of protective parenting.