The development of adolescent panic, depression, and alcohol expectancies as a function of anxiety sensitivity
Abstract
This study assessed the construct anxiety sensitivity (AS) and its relation to panic symptoms and severity, depression, and alcohol expectancies in a sample of nonclinical adolescents at three time points over a twenty-four week interval. This study hypothesized relations between AS and report of panic attacks, panic severity, depression, and anxiolytic alcohol expectancies across time points. It also hypothesized stability in AS over time. In addition, the relations between each of the 4 factors of AS (Physical Concerns, Mental Incapacitation Concerns, Social Concerns, and Control of Anxiety Symptoms) and panic, panic severity, depression, and anxiolytic alcohol expectancies were determined. Measures of anxiety sensitivity, panic, depression, and alcohol expectancies were administered to ninety adolescents attending public high school in Westchester County, New York. Regression analysis revealed that AS predicted depression over time, and each specific factor of AS predicted depression across time. A longitudinal relation between AS and panic approached significance across time, and the Mental Incapacitation Concerns and Social Concerns factors of AS significantly predicted panic endorsement over time. Panic severity and anxiolytic alcohol expectancies were not predicted by AS. Finally, AS scores were stable across time points, though small fluctuations in scores were noted. Results indicate that AS is a powerful, generally stable personality factor associated with related psychopathology such as depression and panic in nonclinical adolescents. Future studies should utilize hierarchical linear modeling to map both between- and within-subject change in these variables over time to offer a fuller picture of the variables' relations, and to identify reasons for minor fluctuations in AS. Future studies should also determine whether AS is predictive of panic and depression onset so that interventions can target adolescents before psychopathology begins.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology|Clinical psychology
Recommended Citation
Carpiniello, Kelly E, "The development of adolescent panic, depression, and alcohol expectancies as a function of anxiety sensitivity" (2004). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI3125004.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI3125004
