Uncertainty intolerance means that you may find it difficult to cope with situations where you don’t know what will happen, when things aren’t entirely clear, or when you can’t predict everything. For some people, this is a major driver of worry, tension, and the need for constant reassurance.
How can you recognize intolerance of uncertainty?
In everyday life, this might look like the thought of a given situation going round and round in your head because you lack enough certainty to put the matter to rest and stop returning to it. Tension arises when plans change, when you have to make a decision without full certainty, or when the future seems unclear.
A person with high intolerance of uncertainty is often not so much afraid of a specific threat as they are of the very state of “not knowing.” This can lead to overanalyzing, postponing decisions, avoidance, and a constant search for reassurance. Learn more: intolerance of uncertainty—how to cope?
What is this questionnaire for?
The IUS (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale) —most commonly translated into Polish as the Uncertainty Intolerance Scale—consists of 27 questions that help assess how strongly you react to uncertainty. It is a self-report tool, meaning you indicate to what extent each statement applies to you.
The questionnaire does not provide a diagnosis. However, it can effectively show whether difficulty tolerating uncertainty is a significant part of your symptoms, especially if you worry frequently.
What is known about the questionnaire’s reliability?
This is not a random list of questions, but a well-researched tool. In the French version, the scale had very high internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.91, and in the English version, 0.94. Researchers also tested whether the results remain fairly stable over time. After five weeks, good test-retest reliability was observed: 0.78 for the French version and 0.74 for the English version.
The scale was also clearly associated with the intensity of worrying. At the same time, the authors demonstrated that it was not merely a matter of general anxiety or low mood, as the association with worrying persisted even after accounting for symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Who developed the IUS?
The first version of the scale was developed by Michel H. Freeston, Josée Rhéaume, Hélène Letarte, Michel J. Dugas, and Raymond Ladouceur in 1994. The English version was validated by Kristin Buhr and Michel J. Dugas in 2002.
It is the work of Buhr and Dugas that is most frequently cited when describing the reliability and validity of the English version of the IUS. The authors concluded that the scale is a reliable and valid method for assessing uncertainty intolerance.
IUS Questionnaire – Uncertainty Intolerance Scale
Instructions:
Below you will find a series of statements describing how people may react to uncertainty in life. For each statement, indicate to what extent it applies to you.
Response scale:
- 1 – does not describe me at all
- 2 – does not really describe me
- 3 – describes me a little
- 4 – describes me fairly well
- 5 – describes me very well
Questions
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Uncertainty prevents me from forming a firm opinion.
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Being uncertain means that a person is disorganized.
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Uncertainty makes life unbearable.
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It’s unfair that there are no guarantees in life.
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I can’t relax if I don’t know what will happen tomorrow.
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Uncertainty makes me feel tense, anxious, or stressed.
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Unexpected events really throw me off balance.
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It frustrates me when I don’t have all the necessary information.
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Uncertainty prevents me from living life to the fullest.
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You always have to look ahead to avoid surprises.
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Even a small, unexpected event can ruin everything, even with a good plan.
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When it’s time to act, uncertainty paralyzes me.
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Being in a state of uncertainty means I’m not good enough.
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When I’m unsure, I can’t move forward.
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When I’m uncertain, I function worse.
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Unlike me, other people seem to know where they’re going in life.
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Uncertainty makes me feel vulnerable, unhappy, or sad.
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I always want to know what the future holds for me.
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I hate it when something takes me by surprise.
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Even the slightest doubt can stop me from taking action.
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I should be able to organize everything in advance.
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Being in a state of uncertainty means I lack self-confidence.
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I find it unfair that other people seem so sure of their future.
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Uncertainty keeps me from sleeping peacefully.
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I have to avoid all uncertain situations.
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Ambiguity and uncertainty in life stress me out.
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I can’t stand not being sure about my future.
Key
The simplest and safest way to calculate your score is to add up the answers to all 27 questions. Each answer is worth a score between 1 and 5, so the total score ranges from 27 to 135 points. The higher the score, the greater the intolerance of uncertainty. The authors of the English version emphasized that, despite identifying several specific areas, it is best to use the overall score first and foremost.
How to calculate the score?
- Add up all the answers from the 27 items.
- There are no reverse-scored items.
- A higher score indicates greater difficulty tolerating uncertainty.
A more detailed scoring key
The supplementary materials also include a division into two domains. This can be used as an additional guide, but the overall score remains the basis for interpretation.
- Area 1: negative effects of uncertainty and avoidance – items 1, 2, 3, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25.
- Area 2: the need for predictability and certainty – items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 18, 19, 21, 26, 27.
How to interpret the result?
A high score does not automatically mean a mental disorder. Rather, it shows that uncertainty is particularly stressful for you and can strongly influence your thoughts, emotions, and decisions.
If you often worry, put off decisions, need constant reassurance, or have a hard time coping without a clear plan, such a score can be an important clue for further therapeutic discussion. The questionnaire itself is best treated as a starting point for understanding the problem, not as a ready-made answer.
If this sounds familiar—it’s worth seeking support
Intolerance of uncertainty is something that can be effectively addressed in therapy. Research shows that a targeted therapeutic approach that takes this mechanism into account brings about real changes in both the level of uncertainty and the intensity of worrying.
If you recognize these patterns in yourself and feel that uncertainty has long been hindering your daily life, decisions, or relationships, it’s worth considering psychotherapy. You can take advantage of online psychotherapy —it’s a convenient option that allows you to work on this issue without leaving home, at a time that fits your schedule.
Bibliography:
- Freeston, M. H., Rhéaume, J., Letarte, H., Dugas, M. J., Ladouceur, R. (1994). Why do people worry? Personality and Individual Differences, 17(6), 791–802.
- Buhr, K., Dugas, M. J. (2002). The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale: Psychometric properties of the English version. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40(8), 931–945.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12186356/
Original questionnaire website: Anxiety Research Centre, University of Wisconsin – https://arc.psych.wisc.edu/self-report/intolerance-of-uncertainty-scale-ius/