Most adults and young people face a great deal of uncertainty in their lives, which can impact mental health. Previous research has found that young adults may be especially vulnerable to the impacts of uncertainty and experience greater psychological distress. A half-hour training program could help young adults cope with uncertainty and therefore improve mental health and well-being, a recent study found.

The authors, led by Sarah Daniels, Ph.D., with the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, note that adolescents and emerging adults face much uncertainty in their daily lives and in the broader community/world, around issues like climate change, economics, social unrest, and their health. Intolerance of uncertainty is a risk factor for mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Therefore, the authors suggest, approaches to improve individuals’ tolerance of uncertainty are a promising preventive approach to improve youth mental health. The study examined the use of the “Uncertainty-Mindset Training” to help address this.

Uncertainty-Mindset Training

The Uncertainty-Mindset Training is a single-session online intervention. The 20–30-minute self-guided session provides information in both written text and video formats. The training explains neuroplasticity; provides testimonials from people about how engaging with uncertainty has benefited them; and describes evidence from experts to support the claims. It also includes questions asking participants to consider how the training related to their own experiences and to give advice to other youth.

The 20–30-minute psychoeducation module was also presented in text and online video. It provided information about cognitive biases, emotion regulation, the importance of social connections, forming good habits, and the benefits of exercise and sleep.

The Study and Findings

Study participants included 259 18- to 24-year-olds, separated into three groups. Researchers compared a group that received the half-hour training, a group provided psychoeducation training, and a control group with no training. In addition to testing right after the training, the participants were tested again at one week, one month, and three months after the training.

The Uncertainty-Mindset Training improved tolerance of uncertainty immediately following the training, and the changes were maintained through the one-month assessment. The training also resulted in reduced anxiety and depression symptoms at one month and increased growth mindset and improved mood at three months. The authors note that the improvements in mental health and mood were accounted for by increases in tolerance for uncertainty.

Improving the ability to “tolerate uncertainty is a promising target for prevention in the context of the high geopolitical, climate, and social uncertainty currently facing young people,” the authors note. This study found that the Uncertainty-Mindset Training showed promise in its ability to reduce mental health symptoms by improving tolerance to uncertainty among emerging adults.

The authors conclude that “Given the rising rates of mental health problems and barriers that prevent mental health care utilization in young people, there is a pressing need for easy-to-disseminate tools to improve youth well-being.” The brief single-session online training tested shows promise but needs additional testing.