The Uncertainty Management Theory (UMT) posits that uncertainty leads to a range of emotions and influences interpersonal communication through information-seeking and avoidance. It emphasizes the importance of managing uncertainty in relationships, including healthcare contexts, and examines the varied effects of negative, positive, and neutral uncertainty. Effective management reduces feelings of insecurity and fosters clearer communication, thus enhancing individual coping strategies and overall relationship satisfaction.

1. Uncertainty Management
Theory
Katelyn Osborne
COMM 6120

2. Uncertainty Management Theory
• The uncertainty management theory (UMT) states
that uncertainty causes a wide range of emotions,
from anxiety to stress and being in distress.
• Individually centered- uncertainty is a state of
mind where people feel insecure about their
surroundings or the situations they are in, no
matter the amount of information each
individual has.

3. UMT
• UMT not only helps understand the role of information‐seeking but
also information‐avoiding in different interpersonal
communication contexts.
• Understand how individuals use communication to cope with
various questions.
• Interpersonal relationships: friendships, romantic and marital
relationships, familial, professional, and health care centered
relationships

4. Different Levels of Uncertainty & Their Effects
• Uncertainty theories (uncertainty reduction theory, uncertainty
management theory, & action assembly theory) are tools to explain how
individuals assess, manage, and cope with difficult and complex
situations. People appraise uncertainty differently.
• Negative uncertainty- causing anxiety & stress
• Positive uncertainty- interaction is an opportunity, viewed with optimism
• Neutral uncertainty- seen as a “fact of life” & accepted for what it is
• Researchers study the impact that appraisal has on communication
strategies.
• Are humans are invariably motivated to reduce uncertainty?
• Are there situations where a person desires to maintain or even increase
uncertainty?

5. Health Care Provider-Patient Interaction:
Information Seeking & Avoiding
• Maintaining health can become more or less prioritized and this will determine their level of
information seeking.
• Do patients feel qualified to understand medical information and terminology? If not, information
seeking is not a goal.
• Acquiring the information will help in managing their health.
• Ask questions reduce the uncertainty increase medical awareness and preserve hope
• Providers and patients should keep open communication and
continually reevaluate the goals of patients.
• Uncertainty management theory has been applied to healthcare communication for many different
health fields- from end of life care and oncology to breast self-examinations.
• UMT has been used extensively to focus on patient involvement and information preferences of
individuals that have been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
• It has also been helpful as the application for those suffering from spinal cord injuries as patients
must adjust to life with a disability.

6. Other Real World UMT Applications
• Rapid changes lead to uncertainty.
• Perceptions of fairness
• Intercultural communication- avoidance or brief, tense interactions
• Anxiety and uncertainty need to be managed in order to have
effective and satisfying communication.
• Management
• Rehearsing different scenarios
• Researching potential topics of
discussion beforehand
4 minutes total so far

7. Other Ways Of Managing Uncertainty
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Talking to someone you trust
• Taking prescribed antidepressants
• It is important to note that uncertainty does not always produce
anxiety.

8. UMT Used in Different Industries
• Guidelines For Company To Follow to Reduce Uncertainty
• Analytic techniques used that do not require high accuracy allow for
stability and success during times of uncertainty
• Simple statistical models offer more reliability than complex ones.
• Prepare for multiple outcomes.
• Identify high influencing individuals and popular
products and services.
• Focus on evaluation of initiatives on inputs.
• Move and respond quickly in communication efforts.
• Cultivate a reputation for extreme trust.

9. Conclusion
• Management can be considered successful when there is a reduction in
the discrepancy between the levels of uncertainty one feels and the
level one hopes to achieve.
• Effective uncertainty management: an individual’s state of mind and
their feelings of insecurity are reduced. The surroundings or the
situations they are in are not so overwhelming once uncertainty
reduction and management are in place.
• Communication Practices
• Self-disclosure (discussing the uncertainties)
• Goal creation (information seeking)
• Accommodation (providing support)

10. References
• Bos, K. & Lind, A. E. (2002). Uncertainty management by means of fairness judgements. Advances
in Experimental Social Psychology. Vol. 34. 1-60. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-
2601(02)80003-X
• Brashers, D.E. (2006). Communication and Uncertainty Management. Journal of Communication.
DOI:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2001.tb0292.x
• Bylund, C.L., Peterson, E., & Cameron, K. (2012). A practitioner’s guide to interpersonal
communication theory: An overview and exploration of selected theories. Patient Education and
Counseling. 87 (2012), 261-267. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2rXmNk7
• Collingwood, J. (2016). Tackling the Fears of the Worried Well. Psych Central. Retrieved from
https://psychcentral.com/lib/tackling-the-fears-of-the-worried-well/
• Greeven, A. (2007). Cognitive behavior therapy and paroxetine in the treatment of hypochondriasis:
a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Psychiatry. Vol. 164. 91-99.
• Gudykunst, W.D. (1995). Anxiety/uncertainty management (AUM) theory: Current status.
International and Intercultural Communication Annual. Vol. 19. Retrieved from
http://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-97866-001
• Hines, S.C., Babrow, A.S., & Moss, A.H. (1997). Communication and Problematic Integration in End-
of-Life Decisions: Dialysis Decisions among the Elderly. Health Commun. 9 (3), 199-217.

11. References Continued
• Peppers, D. (2012). 6 Strategies For Dealing With Uncertainty In Business. Fast Company. Retrieved
from https://bit.ly/2rsOKzq
• Rains, S.A. & Tukachinsky, R. (2015) Information Seeking in Uncertainty Management Theory:
Exposure to Information about Medical Uncertainty and Information- Processing Orientation as
Predictors of Uncertainty Management Success. J Health Commun. 20 (11), 1275-1286. DOI:
10.1080/10810730.2015.1018641. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26132807
• Roloff, M.E. (2015). Theorizing Interpersonal Communication: Progress and Problematic Practices.
Communication Theory, 25 (4), 420-425. DOI: 10.1111/comt.12081.
• Samochowiec, J. & Florack, A. (2010). Intercultural Contact under Uncertainty: The Impact of
Predictability and Anxiety on the Willingness to Interact with a Member from an Unknown Cultural
Group. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2KHXevd
• Stephan, W.G., Stephan, C.W., & Gudykunst, W.B. (1999). Anxiety in intergroup relations: A
comparison of anxiety/uncertainty management theory and integrated threat theory. International
Journal of Intercultural Relations. 23 (4), 613-628. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/S0147-
1767(99)00012-7
• Stone, A.M. (2015). Uncertainty Management Theory. Wiley Online Library.
DOI:10.1002/9781118540190.wbeic120. Retrieved from https://bit.ly/2x50Aqf