The Role of Safety Behaviors in the Relationship Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety in Anxiety Disorders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62051/4g2r6813Keywords:
Intolerance of Uncertainty; Anxiety Disorders; Safety Behaviors; Inhibitory Learning; Threat Expectancy.Abstract
Anxiety largely stems from an individual’s negative expectations of uncertain future outcomes. Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is an important mechanism for maintaining anxiety. This paper examines the relationship between IU and safety behavior. It reviews how IU influences individuals’ processing of threat-related information, and how they are more likely to engage in safety behaviors to reduce anxiety in uncertainty situations. From the perspective of learning theory, this study analyses how safety behaviors are negatively reinforced through short-term emotional relief, and examines their role in blocking inhibitory learning and maintaining threat expectations. This paper synthesises relevant research and proposes that IU forms a cyclical mechanism that maintains anxiety by promoting the repeated use of safety behaviors and limiting adaptive learning. It offers a new perspective on understanding the maintenance of anxiety disorders. Future research should further differentiate among various types of safety behaviors and examine their specific roles in sustaining anxiety.
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