Exploratory Study of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Its Cognitive Processes by the Stroop Task among Parents of a Childhood Cancer Survivor

Introduction. No study has examined the relationship between the factor of intolerance of uncertainty and its effects on the cognitive processes among parents of a childhood cancer survivor. Intolerance of uncertainty is a central factor in generalized anxiety disorder; an anxiety disorder in which impaired processing of cognitive information in the form of cognitive biases is also observed. The aim of the study was to measure, via a classical Stroop test and an emotional Stroop test, the orientation of selective attention in relation to the uncertainty intolerance factor. Methods. 61 parents of a childhood cancer survivor (aged 4 to 6 years) were recruited from hospitals in the Province of Liege (Belgium). Parents completed questionnaires on intolerance of uncertainty and its associated factors (i.e., usefulness of worry, cognitive avoidance, problem-solving attitude, and ruminations) and performed a Stroop test and an emotional Stroop task. Spearman correlations and multiple linear regressions were performed. Results. The results indicated positive and significant correlations between the emotional Stroop (negative interference index) and intolerance to uncertainty but also with repetitive thoughts (ruminations) and worries. Linear regressions showed that depressive symptoms seem to contribute to explaining longer latencies for the interference condition (color word written in another color). Conclusion. Recommendations have been published to improve the management of parents of a childhood cancer survivor, but parent-centered neuropsychological studies are still needed and should be developed to improve prevention and detection initiatives for these families.