Parents' and children's intolerance of uncertainty and their reactions to COVID-19: A story of remarkable similarity.

The COVID-19 viral outbreak is a one in 100 year public health crisis. In addition to the stunning morbidity and mortality rates related to infection, multiple psychiatric sequelae erupted. Unfortunately, children and adolescents are neither immune to infection nor to the emotional consequences associated with the pandemic. Not surprisingly, the field's understanding of the psychological consequences of the viral outbreak are nascent. Consequently, this study examines the relationship between parents' and children's intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and their reactions to COVID-19. Seventy-three parents and 62 children participated in the on-line survey utilizing innovative measures of IU and COVID-19- related thoughts/behaviors. The results revealed remarkable similarities in parents' and children's responses. Parents' and children's reports of the impact of COVID on their lives were highly correlated (r = .53, df = 60, p < .001). Parents' perceptions of children's COVID-19 thoughts and behaviors were strongly aligned with the youths' self-report of their COVID reactions (r = .69, df = 60, p < .001) as well as the appraisal of the virus' impact on their lives (r = .-.42, df = 60, p < .001). Finally, children's reports of their COVID-19 related thoughts and behaviors were significantly linked to their IU (r = .60, df = 60, p < .001). Methodological limitations notwithstanding, the study's findings provide compelling implications for the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of emotional distress in the peri- and post-pandemic periods.

Intolerance of Uncertainty and Health-Related Anxiety in Youth amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Understanding and Weathering the Continuing Storm.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis that continues to impact individuals worldwide. While children may be less susceptible to severe medical complications, they are nonetheless vulnerable to stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic. However, current understanding of psychological functioning and potential strategies to mitigate distress amid a pandemic is naturally limited. Consequently, this article is an attempt to fill that gap. Existing literature on pandemics, health-related anxieties, intolerance of uncertainty, and psychopathological sequelae is summarized within the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions from the empirical data and emerging theoretical models are reviewed and synthesized. Finally, several potentially engaging and effective examples of developmentally appropriate interventions targeting intolerance of uncertainty and health-related anxieties in pediatric patients during the peri- and post-pandemic periods are described.