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Familial Risk and Resilience Moderate the Association Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Youth Suicidal Ideation
Alexa House1,2, Shiane Toleson1,2, Kathryn C Jenkins1,2
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) significantly increases suicidal ideation (SI) risk, especially with high family risk and low family resilience. Addressing family factors can mitigate negative mental health outcomes in youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Adolescent Mental Health
Background:
- Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a trait linked to increased suicidal ideation (SI) risk.
- Family factors may influence the relationship between IU and SI.
- Few studies have investigated the interplay of IU, family risk, and resilience on SI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the unique and interactive effects of IU and familial risk/resilience factors on SI severity in at-risk youth.
- To understand how family dynamics moderate the association between IU and SI.
Main Methods:
- 184 adolescents (ages 16-19) at elevated risk for alcohol use escalation completed self-report measures.
- Measures included intolerance of uncertainty (IU), suicidal ideation (SI) severity, and family risk and protective factors.
- Hierarchical linear regressions analyzed the data, controlling for biological sex, trauma exposure, and legal minor status.
Main Results:
- Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), familial risk, and familial resilience all had significant main effects on suicidal ideation (SI) severity.
- The association between IU and SI severity was stronger with high familial risk.
- The association between IU and SI severity was stronger with low familial resilience.
Conclusions:
- The link between IU and SI is particularly strong in adolescents with high familial risk and low familial resilience.
- Interventions targeting family-level factors may help reduce the negative mental health impact of high IU.
- Family-based interventions could be a viable strategy for mitigating SI in vulnerable youth.
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