Traumatology, Vol 32(3), Sep 2026, 362-368; doi:10.1037/trm0000568
Anxiety sensitivity (AS), or fear of anxious arousal, has been posited as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the origin of AS is less clear. Some have proposed environmental causes of elevated AS such as trauma exposure, but previous research has been inconsistent. Pinpointing AS as a risk factor for PTSD, and not simply an epiphenomenon of trauma exposure, is crucial in determining its relevance as an intervention target for those with PTSD. The current study examined trauma exposure, AS, and PTSD symptoms in a diverse cross-sectional sample of 404 undergraduates to elucidate trauma exposure’s role in heightened AS. We hypothesized AS, especially cognitive and physical subdomains, would be elevated among participants with trauma exposure and likely PTSD but not those with trauma exposure without PTSD or those without trauma exposure. Consistent with hypotheses, the analyses of covariance showed the highest levels of AS total and subdomain scores among those with trauma exposure and likely PTSD, with no difference between those with trauma exposure without PTSD and those with no trauma exposure (η² = .08). The results indicate AS is not simply an outcome of trauma exposure but a potentially relevant PTSD risk factor, underlining the potential value of AS-focused interventions in the prevention and treatment of PTSD. Future research should consider prospective designs and representative samples. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)