The relationship between anxiety sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive symptom dimensions
Abstract
Background and objectives Anxiety sensitivity (AS), the tendency to fear arousal-related body sensations based on beliefs that they are dangerous, is a cognitive vulnerability factor for certain anxiety symptoms such as panic and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Very little research, however, has examined the relationship between AS and obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, which was the objective of the current research. Methods We administered dimensional measures of AS and OC symptoms to a large sample of undergraduate students (N = 636). We also included measures of general distress and cognitive distortions related to OCD (i.e., obsessive beliefs) as control variables. Results Regression analyses indicated that AS was predictive of OC symptoms even after controlling for general distress and obsessive beliefs. In addition, the three domains of AS (physical, social, and cognitive concerns) were differentially associated with the four dimensions of OC symptoms (contamination, responsibility for harm, symmetry, and unacceptable thoughts). Limitations Our findings are based on a non-clinical student sample and their generalization to OCD requires replication with a sample of OCD patients. Conclusions These results provide preliminary evidence that AS plays a role in OC symptoms. Implications for clinical practice and for future research are discussed.
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Both the contamination and responsibility dimensions were significantly more strongly correlated with physical and cognitive concerns than social concerns.
“Both the contamination and responsibility dimensions were significantly more strongly correlated with physical and cognitive concerns than social concerns.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012)
In subsequent regression analyses, some ASI-3 subscales explained a statistically significant proportion of additional variance in symptom dimensions once depression and OCD-relevant beliefs were accounted for.
“In subsequent regression analyses with symptom dimensions as the dependent variables, some of the ASI-3 subscales explained a statistically significant proportion of additional variance once depression and OCD-relevant beliefs were accounted for.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012)
The unwanted thoughts dimension was significantly more strongly related to cognitive concerns than both physical and social concerns.
“The unwanted thoughts dimension was significantly more strongly related to cognitive concerns than both physical and social concerns.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012)
High scores on the unwanted thoughts dimension correlated significantly positively with the cognitive concerns subscale but not the other ASI subscales.
“high scores on the unwanted thoughts dimension correlated significantly positively with the cognitive concerns subscale but not the other ASI subscales (Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012).”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
The symmetry dimension showed no significant differences in the strength of correlations with each ASI-3 subscale and showed the weakest relationships with ASI-3 scores.
“The symmetry dimension showed no significant differences in the strength of the correlations with each subscale and showed the weakest relationships with ASI-3 scores.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012)
The symmetry dimension showed no significant differences in the strength of the correlations with each subscale and showed the weakest relationships with ASI-3 scores.
“The symmetry dimension showed no significant differences in the strength of the correlations with each subscale and showed the weakest relationships with ASI-3 scores.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
Different ASI-3 subscales predicted different symptom dimensions, suggesting there is value in exploring them separately.
“Different subscales predicted different symptom dimensions, suggesting there is value in exploring them separately.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012) explored the relationship between scores on a dimensional measure of OCD symptoms (DOCS) and scores on the subscales of the ASI-3.
“Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012) explored the relationship between scores on a dimensional measure of OCD symptoms (DOCS) and scores on the subscales of the ASI-3.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
In subsequent regression analyses with symptom dimensions as the dependent variables, some of the ASI-3 subscales explained a statistically significant proportion of additional variance once depression and OCD-relevant beliefs were accounted for.
“In subsequent regression analyses with symptom dimensions as the dependent variables, some of the ASI-3 subscales explained a statistically significant proportion of additional variance once depression and OCD-relevant beliefs were accounted for.”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
In non-clinical samples, obsessions were more strongly correlated with total ASI than were other symptom domains, and high scores on the unwanted thoughts dimension correlated significantly positively with the cognitive concerns subscale but not the other ASI subscales.
“In non-clinical samples, obsessions were more strongly correlated with total ASI than were other symptom domains (David, et al., 2009) and high scores on the unwanted thoughts dimension correlated significantly positively with the cognitive concerns subscale but not the other ASI subscales (Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012).”
From Emotion and internal experience in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Reviewing the role of alexithymia, anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance (2014) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al., 2012
AS is associated with various anxiety disorder symptoms among younger adults.
“Researchers have highlighted the connection between AS and various anxiety disorder symptoms among younger adults.”
From Anxiety Sensitivity, Experiential Avoidance, and Mindfulness Among Younger and Older Adults: Age Differences in Risk Factors for Anxiety Symptoms (2015) · cites this paper as Wheaton, Mahaffey, et al. (2012)
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- Authors
- Wheaton, M. G., Mahaffey, B., Timpano, K. R., Berman, N. C., & Abramowitz, J. S.
- Affiliations
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- University of Miami (US)
- Corresponding author
- Abramowitz, Jonathan S.
- Venue
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-09
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 891-896
- ISSN
- 0005-7916 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2029164721
- Cited by
- 73
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3
- FWCI
- 5.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- anxiety sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, contamination, responsibility for harm, symmetry, unacceptable thoughts, cognitive vulnerability, obsessive beliefs, cognitive distortions, general distress, undergraduate students
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Stress, Psychological
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