Mediation Role of Anxiety Sensitivity on the Relationships between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Fear of COVID-19

The aim of the present study is exploring the mediation role of anxiety sensitivity on the relationships between intolerance of uncertainty and fear of COVID-19. The study was conducted with the relational screening method. The research data were collected online from 302 individuals (Male n = 76, Female n = 226) with Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. The result of both mediation analysis and bootstrapping analysis (with 5000 bootstrap resamples) showed that the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and fear of COVID-19 was mediated by anxiety sensitivity. Anxiety sensitivity decreased the effect of intolerance of uncertainty on fear of COVID-19. Moreover, comparing intolerance of uncertainty and anxiety sensitivity in terms of their predictive levels of the fear of COVID-19, it was concluded that anxiety sensitivity predicted the fear of COVID-19 more, and that anxiety sensitivity included the variance of intolerance to uncertainty associated with the fear of COVID-19. El objetivo del presente estudio es explorar el papel mediador de la sensibilidad a la ansiedad en las relaciones entre la intolerancia a la incertidumbre y el miedo al COVID-19. El estudio se realizó con el método de cribado relacional. Los datos de la investigación se recopilaron en línea de 302 personas (hombres n = 76, mujeres n = 226) con la escala de miedo a COVID-19, índice de sensibilidad a la ansiedad-3, escala de intolerancia a la incertidumbre. El resultado tanto del análisis de mediación como del análisis bootstrapping (con un remuestreo de 5000 bootstrap) mostró que la relación entre la intolerancia a la incertidumbre y el miedo al COVID-19 estaba mediada por la sensibilidad a la ansiedad. La sensibilidad a la ansiedad disminuyó el efecto de la intolerancia a la incertidumbre sobre el miedo al COVID-19. Además, al comparar la intolerancia a la incertidumbre y la sensibilidad a la ansiedad en términos de sus niveles predictivos del miedo al COVID-19, se concluyó que la sensibilidad a la ansiedad predijo más el miedo al COVID-19 y que la sensibilidad a la ansiedad incluyó la varianza de la intolerancia a la incertidumbre asociada. con el miedo al COVID-19.

Examining the Factor Structure of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 in a Turkish Sample: The Factor Structure of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the factor structure of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) in a Turkey sample and to determine measurement invariance of the ASI-3 across gender and age groups. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on four different models to determine the best fit model for the structure. After the best structure was determined, different models were tested for measurement invariance across gender and age groups. To determine the reliability of the ASI-3, the hierarchical omega coefficient and correlations between the scores obtained from different scales for convergent validity were calculated. It has been determined that the bifactor model is the model that best fits the data, and this model shows invariance across gender and age groups. Besides, evidence regarding the reliability and convergent validity of the ASI-3 was also provided in the study. Current findings show that anxiety sensitivity consists of a general factor (anxiety sensitivity) and three independent specific factors (physical, cognitive, and social concerns). It was concluded that the general factor of anxiety sensitivity constitutes a dominant factor and special factors have a relatively low effect on explaining the structure. Considering the dominance of the general factor, it is recommended to use the ASI-3 total score as a measure of general anxiety sensitivity.

Presión percibida para el consumo de alcohol y variables de resistencia en la adolescencia

La adolescencia es una etapa caracterizada por la experimentación de cambios y nuevas experiencias que, a veces, pasan a ser conductas de riesgo, tales como el consumo de alcohol. Actualmente, la implicación de los adolescentes en este tipo de experiencias va en aumento, generando consecuencias negativas en el desarrollo del adolescente. Alguno de los factores que promueve el inicio en el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas es la presión percibida por el grupo de iguales hacia el consumo. Por tanto, los objetivos del presente estudio son analizar la asociación entre diferentes variables individuales como la autoestima, la impulsividad, la sensibilidad a la ansiedad y las expectativas hacia el consumo de alcohol, así como su implicación en la resistencia a la presión percibida para consumir alcohol en una muestra de 1.287 alumnos con edades comprendidas entre 14 y 18 años. Para ello, se utilizó el Cuestionario Resistencia a la Presión de Grupo en el Consumo de Alcohol, Cuestionario de Expectativas del Alcohol en Adolescentes, Anxiety Sensitivity Index–3, Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale y Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11-A. Los resultados mostraron la existencia de asociaciones positivas entre la presión percibida y las expectativas positivas hacia el consumo, la sensibilidad a la ansiedad física, cognitiva y social y con la impulsividad general. De este modo, es importante seguir con esta línea de investigación y desarrollar estrategias de intervención innovadoras, con el objetivo de reducir las conductas de riesgo en los adolescentes.

A network analysis of culturally relevant anxiety sensitivity and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in Cambodians

The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) measures fears of anxiety-related symptoms based on respondent beliefs about their harmfulness. This is the first network analysis of anxiety sensitivity and PTSD, and the first to explore an addendum of culturally salient fears in such an analysis. The purpose of our study was to test whether relations among PTSD symptoms and facets of anxiety sensitivity, observed clinically, can be visualized by this approach. Using network analysis, we examined in a Cambodian population the relationship of PTSD symptoms to the standard Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and to an ASI Cambodian Addendum (ASICA) that taps culturally salient fears of somatic symptoms among Cambodians not assessed in the standard ASI. Computing relative importance networks, we found that the ASI subscales, ASICA, and PTSD subscales were strongly interconnected, with the ASICA having the strongest outstrength centrality. In the network analysis of the ASI subscales, disaggregated ASICA, and PTSD subscales, several of the ASICA items had very high outstrength. The results show that fear of mental and physical symptoms of anxiety should be a key part of the evaluation of trauma-related disorder, and that those fears should be targeted. It also suggests the need for ASI addenda to assess concerns about anxiety symptoms salient for certain cultures that are not assessed by the standard ASI: among Cambodian populations, fear of cold hands and feet, “out of energy in the arms and legs,” neck soreness, tinnitus, and dizziness on standing.

Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3)

Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity plays a prominent role in the etiology of anxiety disorders. This construct has attracted widespread interest from experts and researchers. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3) is the most common scale for measuring anxiety sensitivity. Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties and factor structure of the ASI-3 in Iranian student samples. Methods: 220 students (135 women, 85 men) from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences were selected by the convenience sampling method to evaluate the psychometric properties and analyze the factor structure of the ASI-3. The subjects were also asked to complete the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Whiteley Index, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Neuroticism scales. LISREL and SPSS were used to analyze the data. Cronbach's alpha and correlation coefficients were calculated and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure with physical, cognitive, and social components (comparative fit index = 0.94; normed fit index = 0.91; root mean square error of approximation = 0.09). The ASI-3 had positive and significant correlations with health anxiety (0.59), intolerance of uncertainty (0.29), and neuroticism (0.51). Furthermore, the ASI-3 had a negative and significant correlation with the AAQII (-0.58). Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the whole scale and for the physical, cognitive, and social concerns factors were 0.90, 0.74, 0.79, and 0.78, respectively. The invariance of the index was significant compared to the original English version. Conclusion: In general, the results support the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the ASI-3. Theoretical and applied implications will be discussed.