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Anxiety Sensitivity and Its Factors in Relation to Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Adolescents

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Abstract

Anxiety psychopathology, one of the most prevalent classes of disorder among youth, is linked to detrimental outcomes. Accordingly, identifying factors that influence vulnerability to anxiety disorders is important. One promising factor, given emerging evidence for its transdiagnostic nature, is anxiety sensitivity (AS); however, relatively little is known about the linkage between AS and indicators of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), particularly among youth. The aim of the current investigation was to address this gap in the literature using a community-based sample of adolescents aged 10–17 years (n = 165; M age  = 14.49 years, SD = 2.26). Results indicated global AS and the AS-physical concerns dimension were significantly associated with worry, generalized anxiety symptoms, and GAD diagnosis assessed via a structured clinical interview, above and beyond key theoretically-relevant covariates. These findings add to a growing body of work underscoring the relevance of AS for multiple types of anxiety-related disorders among youth.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Standards

As indicated in the text, the research team received approval by the University Institutional Review Board prior to participant contact and obtained written, informed consent as well as assent prior to participant inclusion in the study. Finally, the research study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards as indicated by the American Psychiatric Association.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, 216 Memorial Hall, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA

    Ashley A. Knapp, Emily R. Mischel & Ellen W. Leen-Feldner

  2. Department of Psychology, University of North Texas, 155 Union Circle #311280, Denton, TX, 76203, USA

    Heidemarie Blumenthal

  3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 67 President Street, MSC 861, 2nd Fl. IOP South Building, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA

    Christal L. Badour

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 109 Bee St, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA

    Christal L. Badour

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  1. Ashley A. Knapp
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Correspondence to Ashley A. Knapp.

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Knapp, A.A., Blumenthal, H., Mischel, E.R. et al. Anxiety Sensitivity and Its Factors in Relation to Generalized Anxiety Disorder among Adolescents. J Abnorm Child Psychol 44, 233–244 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-9991-0

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