Attachment and Its Relationship to Anxiety Sensitivity

Abstract

This study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) in relation to attachment as measured by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and the inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA). We also examined how well attachment variables, anxiety sensitivity, and trait anxiety predicted panic symptoms as measured by the Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS). Three hundred forty-three participants completed a series of self-report measures assessing attachment perceptions, anxiety sensitivity, trait anxiety, and panic symptom frequency and severity. The study hypotheses were tested in several hierarchical regression analyses that examined the relationship between attachment perceptions and anxiety sensitivity while controlling for sex and trait anxiety. Another study hypothesis tested the relationship between attachment perceptions and panic symptom frequency and severity while controlling for sex, anxiety sensitivity, and trait anxiety. Only attachment Anxiety was a significant predictor of anxiety sensitivity after controlling for sex and trait anxiety. The best predictors of panic symptoms were trait anxiety and anxiety sensitivity. None of the attachment variables significantly predicted panic symptoms. Significant differences found across attachment groupings for anxiety sensitivity. The current study found support for the findings of Weems et al. (2002) and Watt et al. (2005) and extended these results to two different attachment measures.