Anxiety Sensitivity as a Moderator of the Relation Between Trauma Exposure Frequency and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology

The present study tested if the global anxiety sensitivity construct and its constituent factors (i.e., physical, mental incapacitation, and social concerns) moderate the relation between traumatic event exposure frequency and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Participants were 61 rural young adults who reported experiencing at least 1 lifetime traumatic event. Consistent with prediction, anxiety sensitivity total and subfactor levels moderated the relation between trauma exposure frequency and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. These moderating effects were above and beyond variance accounted for by the respective anxiety sensitivity and stress main effects as well as other theoretically relevant factors (e.g., negative affectivity). Findings are discussed in relation to better understanding cognitive-based individual difference factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptomatology.