Incremental Associations Between Facets of Anxiety Sensitivity and Posttraumatic Stress and Panic Symptoms Among Trauma‐Exposed Adults

Abstract

The present investigation examined incremental associations between anxiety sensitivity (AS) subfactors (e.g. physical, psychological, and social concerns) and posttraumatic stress and panic symptoms among trauma‐exposed adults. These effects were examined above and beyond other theoretically relevant factors, including negative affectivity and number of types of trauma exposures. The 239 participants were selected from a university‐ and community‐based sample (129 women; mean age = 23.0 years; SD = 9.6, range = 18–65), all of whom endorsed exposure to traumatic life events. The AS psychological concerns and AS physical concerns lower order factors evidenced distinct associations with posttraumatic stress symptoms and panic‐relevant symptoms, respectively. Specifically, the AS psychological concerns facet was significantly incrementally predictive of posttraumatic stress‐relevant avoidance symptoms. The AS physical concerns facet was significantly incrementally predictive of panic‐relevant symptoms, including anxious arousal, body vigilance, and perceived control over anxiety‐related events. Results are discussed in the context of the relevant theoretical literature pertaining to shared vulnerability and comorbidity between posttraumatic stress and panic.