Facing the unknown: A within-subjects study on the role of intolerance of uncertainty on exploratory behavior across the menstrual cycle.

When making decisions, there is usually a choice between a known and a more uncertain option. This type of decision-making process can be referred to as the exploration-exploitation trade-off, in which individuals balance exploiting known options with exploring uncertain alternatives. Previous research suggests that exploratory behaviour in food-related tasks, varies across the menstrual cycle, but it is still unclear whether individual differences in intolerance of uncertainty (IU) explain this variation. The present study investigated whether exploratory behaviour differs across menstrual cycle phases and whether IU moderates this relationship. In this longitudinal within-subject design, 54 women with a natural menstrual cycle completed a food-related exploration task during three phases of their cycle: the early follicular, late follicular and late luteal phases. To measure exploratory behaviour, the Food Choice Task was used. In this task, participants had to choose between a...Show moreWhen making decisions, there is usually a choice between a known and a more uncertain option. This type of decision-making process can be referred to as the exploration-exploitation trade-off, in which individuals balance exploiting known options with exploring uncertain alternatives. Previous research suggests that exploratory behaviour in food-related tasks, varies across the menstrual cycle, but it is still unclear whether individual differences in intolerance of uncertainty (IU) explain this variation. The present study investigated whether exploratory behaviour differs across menstrual cycle phases and whether IU moderates this relationship. In this longitudinal within-subject design, 54 women with a natural menstrual cycle completed a food-related exploration task during three phases of their cycle: the early follicular, late follicular and late luteal phases. To measure exploratory behaviour, the Food Choice Task was used. In this task, participants had to choose between a known food item and an unknown option. Choosing the unknown option was interpreted as exploratory behaviour. IU was measured using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS-12). Results showed no significant differences in exploratory behaviour across menstrual cycle phases. IU was also not a significant predictor of overall exploratory behaviour. However, a significant interaction between the late follicular phase and IU was found, indicating that higher levels of IU were associated with reduced exploratory behaviour, specifically in the late follicular phase. Similar results also apply for inhibitory IU. These findings suggest that exploratory behaviour across the menstrual cycle is not only shaped by cycle phase, but may depend on individual differences in how uncertainty in the surrounding environment is experienced. The results underscore the importance of considering both biological and psychological factors when examining decision-making under uncertainty in a female sample.Show less

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Facing the unknown: A within-subjects study on the role of intolerance of uncertainty on exploratory behavior across the menstrual cycle.