Abstract
Sivertsen et al. (2023) showed that adolescents endorsing high levels of internalizing and externalizing symptoms are at risk of increased mental health problems during emerging adulthood and suggested the existence of both homotypic and heterotypic continuities of mental disorders over time. Since adolescence and emerging adulthood are transition periods highly intertwined with uncertainty, the present perspective contextualizes the findings by Sivertsen et al. (2023) in relation to the extant literature on intolerance of uncertainty and the recently developed Uncertainty Distress Model. Moreover, it claims for further research addressing the way adolescents and emerging adults process and deal with uncertainty. Indeed, focusing more attention on the implications of trans-situational and trans-diagnostic constructs such as uncertainty distress and intolerance of uncertainty in these life stages may hold great promise to design and implement effective mental health prevention programs.
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Acknowledgements
Special thanks to those who contributed their time in debating the issues presented. Particular thanks go to (in alphabetical order): Nick Carleton, Mark Freeston, Sara Iannattone, Marco Lauriola, and members of the Uncertainty in COntext Research Network (Sally Askey-Jones, Eleonora Carraro, Mark Freeston, Jessica Komes, Lauren Mawn, Layla Mofrad, Nerea Requena Ocana, Raquel Nogueira Arjona, Pablo Romero-Sanchiz, Gregoris Simos, Meropi Simou, Ashley Tiplady).
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G.B. conceptualized and wrote the manuscript.
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The author has no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. No funding was received for conducting this study.
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Bottesi, G. Why we should focus more attention on uncertainty distress and intolerance of uncertainty in adolescents and emerging adults. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02343-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02343-0