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Nonclinical Panic Attack History and Anxiety Sensitivity: Testing the Differential Moderating Role of Self-Report and Behavioral Indices of Distress Tolerance

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Abstract

The present investigation examined the main and interactive effects of a nonclinical panic attack history and two different measures of distress tolerance (DT)—perceived (self-report) and behavioral (breath-holding duration)—in relation to the global and lower-order factors of anxiety sensitivity (AS). Results indicated that lower levels of perceived DT were significantly related to greater levels of global as well as all lower-order AS factors (physical, cognitive, and social concerns); however, lower levels of behavioral DT were not significantly related to the global or lower-order AS factors at the main effect level. The interaction between a nonclinical panic attack history and perceived DT was only significantly related to the AS-cognitive factor. Moreover, the interaction between a nonclinical panic attack history and behavioral DT was only significantly related to the AS-physical factor. The present findings suggest that DT may be an important factor to target among panic-vulnerable populations.

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Notes

  1. Given the well-established relation between panic attacks and AS, it was expected that the main effect of nonclinical panic attack history would be significantly related to all facets of AS (global and lower-order concerns: physical, cognitive, and social).

  2. A three-way interaction of panic attack history by perceived DT by behavioral DT also was examined post-hoc; however, no significant relations between the three-way interaction term and the criterion variables were observed. Results of this analysis can be obtained by contacting the corresponding author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Vermont, 2 Colchester Avenue, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA

    Kirsten A. Johnson

  2. Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, 800 East Leigh Street, Biotech One, P.O. Box 980126, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA

    Erin C. Berenz

  3. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX, 77204, USA

    Michael J. Zvolensky

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  1. Kirsten A. Johnson
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  2. Erin C. Berenz
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  3. Michael J. Zvolensky
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Correspondence to Michael J. Zvolensky.

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Johnson, K.A., Berenz, E.C. & Zvolensky, M.J. Nonclinical Panic Attack History and Anxiety Sensitivity: Testing the Differential Moderating Role of Self-Report and Behavioral Indices of Distress Tolerance. Cogn Ther Res 36, 603–611 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-011-9410-y

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