Abstract
Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is a psychological risk factor for anxiety disorders. Negative interpretation biases are a maladaptive
form of information-processing also associated with anxiety disorders. The present study explored whether AS and negative
interpretation biases make independent contributions to variance in panic and generalized anxiety symptoms and whether particular
interpretation bias domains (e.g., of ambiguous arousal sensations) have specific associations with panic and/or generalized
anxiety symptoms. Eighty-nine female undergraduates (44 low AS; 45 high AS) completed measures of AS, interpretation biases,
and panic and generalized anxiety symptoms. Findings showed that AS and negative interpretation biases both significantly
added to the prediction of anxiety symptoms. Negative interpretations of ambiguous arousal sensations were uniquely associated
with panic symptoms, while negative interpretations of ambiguous general and social events were uniquely associated with generalized
anxiety symptoms. Findings support the conceptual validity of AS and negative interpretation biases and their unique and shared
contributions to anxiety symptoms.
form of information-processing also associated with anxiety disorders. The present study explored whether AS and negative
interpretation biases make independent contributions to variance in panic and generalized anxiety symptoms and whether particular
interpretation bias domains (e.g., of ambiguous arousal sensations) have specific associations with panic and/or generalized
anxiety symptoms. Eighty-nine female undergraduates (44 low AS; 45 high AS) completed measures of AS, interpretation biases,
and panic and generalized anxiety symptoms. Findings showed that AS and negative interpretation biases both significantly
added to the prediction of anxiety symptoms. Negative interpretations of ambiguous arousal sensations were uniquely associated
with panic symptoms, while negative interpretations of ambiguous general and social events were uniquely associated with generalized
anxiety symptoms. Findings support the conceptual validity of AS and negative interpretation biases and their unique and shared
contributions to anxiety symptoms.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10862-012-9286-5
- Authors
- Janine V. Olthuis, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
- Sherry H. Stewart, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
- Margo C. Watt, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
- Brigitte C. Sabourin, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, PO Box 15000, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 4R2
- Edmund Keogh, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
- Journal Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment
- Online ISSN 1573-3505
- Print ISSN 0882-2689