Structure of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index psychometrics and factor structure in a community sample

J Anxiety Disord. 2002;16(1):33-49. doi: 10.1016/s0887-6185(01)00087-1.

Abstract

Converging evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (i.e., threatening beliefs regarding autonomic arousal) is a risk factor for anxiety pathology. Specification of premorbid risk factors requires exclusion of individuals with a history of spontaneous panic to ensure that anxiety sensitivity is not merely a consequence or concomitant of the experience of panic. However, the psychometrics and dimensional nature of anxiety sensitivity in such a sample is undetermined. The present study evaluated the factor structure of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), a measure of anxiety sensitivity, in a community sample (N = 233) with no history of psychiatric illness or spontaneous panic. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) suggested a two- or three-factor solution (1, Fear of Mental Catastrophe; II, Fear of Cardiopulmonary Sensations; III, Fear of Vasovagal Sensations). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) comparing alternative models indicated that a hierarchical two-factor solution (I, Fear of Mental Catastrophe; II, Fear of Cardiopulmonary Sensations) best accounted for the data. This model generalized well to a nonclinical college sample (N = 809).

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / complications
  • Anxiety / psychology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Depression / psychology
  • District of Columbia
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Fear / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Panic Disorder / psychology
  • Personality Inventory*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Southwestern United States