Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form
IUS-12Permission: Licensed: permission required. Obtain permission from the copyright holder before using it in a study.
A 12-item short form measuring prospective anxiety about uncertainty and uncertainty-related behavioral inhibition.
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Permission required
Importing IUS-12 into a Surveyor study is disabled: Folio holds the instrument’s metadata, not a license to pass on its wording. The citation, scoring and reliability details on this page are free to use and cite.
Reliability & validation
Subscales
Known limitations
The relative fit and interpretation of one- versus two-factor models remains debated. The IUS-12 measures a transdiagnostic disposition and is not a diagnostic screener. Confirm reproduction terms before administration.
Original citation
Carleton, R. N., Norton, P. J., & 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.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.03.014This instrument is licensed. Folio does not distribute its item wording. Obtain permission from the copyright holder before using it in your study.
Questions researchers ask
What does the IUS-12 measure?
A 12-item short form measuring prospective anxiety about uncertainty and uncertainty-related behavioral inhibition.
How many items does the IUS-12 have?
The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale - Short Form (IUS-12) has 12 items across 2 subscales: Prospective Anxiety, Inhibitory Anxiety.
Is the IUS-12 free to use?
The IUS-12 is licensed. You must obtain permission from the copyright holder before using it in a study. Folio does not distribute its item wording without that permission.
Is the IUS-12 reliable?
Validation studies report Cronbach's α of 0.85–0.91. See the reliability section for the population studied and full statistics.
Who developed the IUS-12, and how do I cite it?
Carleton, R. N., Norton, P. J., & 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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.03.014
Related scales
Library entry verified August 2026. Metadata is provided for reference; item wording is available inside Folio Surveyor, subject to each instrument's licensing.