Fears of cognitive dyscontrol and publicly observable anxiety symptoms: Depression predictors in moderate-to-high worriers

Abstract

This study examined the relation between dimensions of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and depression symptoms in 94 moderate-to-high worriers (mean age=19.02 years, SD=2.07; age range=18–36; 76.6% females). Two hypotheses were tested: (1) AS as a unitary construct would significantly predict depression symptoms even after controlling for worry and GAD symptoms, and (2) the fear of cognitive dyscontrol and the fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions dimensions of AS would significantly predict depression symptoms even after controlling for worry and GAD symptoms. Consistent with hypotheses, hierarchical linear multiple regressions showed that AS as a unitary construct, as well as the fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions and fear of cognitive dyscontrol dimensions, significantly predicted depression symptoms even after controlling for worry and GAD symptoms. A discussion of findings in the context of the specificity and nonspecificity of AS is provided, along with potential implications for clinicians and researchers working with moderate-to-high worriers.