Youth Mental Health in Uncertain Times

Quantifying Intolerance of Uncertainty across cognitive and neurobiological measures

Adolescents are facing increasing levels of stress and uncertainty, and high intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has been associated with anxiety, stress, avoidance behaviours, and poorer mental health outcomes. This project investigates how IU influences cognitive functioning in adolescents, including decision-making, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility, as well as its broader impact on mental health. 

To address this, the study will develop and pilot a cognitive test battery that combines neuropsychological tasks with questionnaires to assess responses to uncertainty and ambiguity. In addition, the project explores resilience factors that may protect adolescents with high IU from developing mental health problems. 

The main outcome of the study is the creation and validation of a functional test battery that can support future research on IU and adolescent resilience.

Researchers involved

Funding

This interdisciplinary project has been funded through the Resilience Funding Call of Thriving and Healthy Youth.