Uncertainty after sexual assault: Understanding associations between IU and PTSD within a treatment-seeking sample

Sexual violence is associated with increased rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (PTSS) among survivors. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), or a fear of the unknown, has been consistently linked with PTSS. However, no research has examined IU and PTSS across different trauma types. The current study examined whether differences exist in the relationship between IU and PTSS across sexual (n = 79) and non-sexual violence (n = 168) trauma subsamples. Baseline data from a diverse sample of participants enrolled in a randomized control treatment trial was used and participants were grouped according to trauma type. Results indicated that rates of IU did not differ across trauma types subsamples (p = .84), whereas PTSS levels did (p < .02). Within non-sexual violence trauma survivors, IU was significantly associated with PTSD arousal symptoms. Within the sexual violence sample, all symptom clusters, except re-experiencing symptoms, were significantly associated with IU. Findings from the current study are discussed in terms of clinical implications and directions for future research.