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About

About This Project

ambtol.com is a project exploring ambiguity intolerance — the tendency to perceive ambiguous or uncertain situations as threatening or uncomfortable. The goal is to make research on this topic accessible and actionable.

The self-assessment is based on the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Short Form (IUS-12) by Carleton, Norton, & Asmundson (2007). All content is grounded in peer-reviewed research.

This is not a clinical tool and does not replace professional mental health advice. If you are struggling with anxiety or distress related to uncertainty, please consult a qualified mental health professional.

Methodology

The IUS-12 is a validated 12-item self-report measure of intolerance of uncertainty. It assesses two dimensions:

  • Prospective Anxiety — worry about future uncertainty
  • Inhibitory Anxiety — paralysis under uncertainty

Scoring interpretation bands are approximate and based on normative data. There are no official clinical cutoffs for the IUS-12.

Assessment results are stored locally in your browser and are never transmitted to any server.

References

  1. Birrell, J., Meares, K., Wilkinson, A., & Freeston, M. (2011). Toward a definition of intolerance of uncertainty: A review of factor analytical studies of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(7), 1198–1208.
  2. Budner, S. (1962). Intolerance of ambiguity as a personality variable. Journal of Personality, 30(1), 29–50.
  3. Carleton, R. N. (2012). The intolerance of uncertainty construct in the context of anxiety disorders: Theoretical and practical perspectives. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 12(8), 937–947.
  4. Carleton, R. N., Norton, M. A. P., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2007). Fearing the unknown: A short version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 21(1), 105–117.
  5. Dugas, M. J., & Robichaud, M. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice. Routledge.
  6. 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.
  7. Frenkel-Brunswik, E. (1949). Intolerance of ambiguity as an emotional and perceptual personality variable. Journal of Personality, 18(1), 108–143.

Resources

auto_storiesLearn about ambiguity intolerance

Contact & Open Source

This project is open to feedback. If you have suggestions, corrections, or ideas for improvement, feel free to get in touch.