Anxiety Sensitivity in Relation to Anxiety Symptoms Among Serbian Youth

Background: Accumulating evidence shows that anxiety sensitivity is associated with anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents. Factor analytic studies showed that anxiety sensitivity has hierarchical structure with a single higher-order factor of global anxiety sensitivity represented by two to four underlying facets. There has been little research on the relationship between certain facets (concerns) and anxiety symptoms. This study evaluated the relationships between anxiety sensitivity and anxiety symptoms in Serbian youth. Methods: In the study participated 456 non-referred youth, aged 8-18 years. The Child Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) questionnaire were used. Data was analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Results: In regression models, the CASI was a significant predictor of all SCARED scales (p < 0.01), accounting for up to 28% of additional variance in particular anxiety symptoms. Moreover, a set of two to four facets accounted for significant additional variance. One CASI facet within the sets accounted for the most significant additional variance. Disease concerns accounted for the most of the variance of symptoms of panic disorder (22.1%), mental concerns of symptoms of GAD (12%) and school avoidance (7.3%), social concerns of symptoms of social phobia (11.9%), and unsteady concerns of symptoms of separation anxiety disorder (18.2%). Conclusions: Anxiety sensitivity is strongly related to anxiety symptoms in Serbian youth. However, different sets of two to four anxiety sensitivity facets predicted particular anxiety symptoms; with at least one facet within the set being the most predictive.