Dissertation
A psychometric and clincial investigation of anxiety sensitivity in anxiety disorders
Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
2004
Abstract
Anxiety sensitivity is a cognitive, individual difference variable that is differentiated by an individual's fear of anxiety sensations and centred on the belief that such sensations result in harmful consequences. In order to test anxiety sensitivity, Reiss, Peterson, Gursky, and McNally (1986) developed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI). However, one contentious issue in the area concerns the factor analytic structure of anxiety sensitivity and this has important consequences for the construct. Numerous investigations have been conducted using the ASI, and the results have varied appreciably with some researchers arguing for a unidimensional construct. However the general consensus now is that anxiety sensitivity is multidimensional. It has been argued that the repeated attempts to clarify the dimensionality of anxiety sensitivity, using the 16-item ASI, is problematic because the scale was never designed to measure a multidimensional construct in the first instance. Thus, the objective of the dissertation was to critically examine the anxiety sensitivity construct by using an expanded, multidimensional measure of anxiety sensitivity referred to as the Anxiety Sensitivity Index - Revised ([ASI-R] Taylor & Cox, 1998) and establish the psychometric properties of the measure by conducting a series of empirical investigations to assess the clinical utility of the measure.
Details
- Title
- A psychometric and clincial investigation of anxiety sensitivity in anxiety disorders
- Authors
- Kerry Ann Armstrong (Author)
- Awarding institution
- Queensland University of Technology
- Degree awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451322202621
- Output Type
- Dissertation
Metrics
223 Record Views