Responding to uncertain threat: A potential mediator for the effect of mindfulness on anxiety.
Inka Papenfuss, Miriam J. J. Lommen, Christian Grillon, Nicholas L Balderston, Brian D. Ostafin
Journal of Anxiety Disorders 2021 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2020.102332 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 53 |
| Population | Healthy participants |
| Topics | Anxiety Meditation |
| Keywords | Intolerance of uncertainty Mediation Predictability Startle reflex |
| Key findings | Intolerance of uncertainty mediated the effect of mindfulness on some anxiety symptoms, while physiological and subjective responses to uncertain threat were largely unrelated to mindfulness, anxiety, or intolerance of uncertainty. |
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions have gained extensive support for their application in the treatment of anxiety. However, their mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Excessive reactivity to uncertainty plays a central role in anxiety, and may represent a mechanism for the effect of mindfulness on anxiety, as mindfulness training fosters an open and accepting stance towards all aspects of experience. The present study sought to investigate both (i) self-reported intolerance of uncertainty (IU) as well as (ii) physiological and subjective responding to uncertain threat in a threat-of-shock paradigm, the NPU-threat test, as mediators for the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety in a cross-sectional study of healthy participants (N = 53). The results indicated that IU mediated the effect of mindfulness on some anxiety symptoms. In contrast, scores of physiological as well as subjective responses to uncertain threat from the NPU-threat test were largely unrelated to mindfulness, anxiety, or the IU self-report measure. The results provide initial evidence that reactions to uncertainty may play a role in the mindfulness-anxiety relationship and suggest that studies are needed to address how methodological variations of the NPU-threat test affect perceived levels of uncertainty and uncertainty-related anxiety.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 985 |
| The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin | 2016 | Questionnaire development and validation | |
| Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States | 2013 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 130,152 |
| Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use | 2002 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 282 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Aversive response to uncertainty as a mediator for the effect of a mindfulness intervention on symptoms of anxiety International Journal of Psychophysiology June 24, 2022
- The roles of intolerance of uncertainty and mindfulness in psychological distress: a two-wave longitudinal study Current Psychology June 26, 2024
- Mindfulness and anxiety among medicine college students: a moderated mediation model of intolerance of uncertainty and neuroticism Psychology, Health & Medicine August 25, 2025
- Mindful yoga intervention as add-on to treatment as usual for young women with major depressive disorder: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology December 2022
- Anticipatory threat responses mediate the relationship between mindfulness and anxiety: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Public Health September 26, 2022
and 2 more in the library
Cites 7
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and 2 more in the library