Cognitive mechanisms in claustrophobia: An examination of reiss and McNally's expectancy model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory

Abstract

This paper reports on two studies that examined predictions derived from Reiss and McNally's (1985) expectancy model of fear behavior and Bandura's (1988) self-efficacy theory. In Study 1 of 138 participants displaying marked claustrophobic fears, scales were developed to measure Suffocation Concerns, Entrapment Concerns, and Coping Self-Efficacy. In Study 2 of 202 participants displaying marked claustrophobic fears, confirmatory factor and reliability analyses showed that these scales reliably tapped relatively discrete constructs. Predictions derived from the Reiss and McNally expectancy model and Bandura's self-efficacy theory were examined using behavioral, subjective, and physiological measures taken during a claustrophobic Behavioral Approach Test (BAT). Coping Self-Efficacy accounted for unique variance in subjective fear and heart-rate reactivity, but did not produce significantly better classification of participants' behavior beyond the expectancy model variable set. The expectancy model variable set meaningfully predicted behavioral approach, with the interaction between Expected Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity adding significantly to the classification beyond all other variables. These findings suggest that the expectancy model and self-efficacy theory provide meaningful and nonredundant accounts of phobic reactions.