The Mediating Role of Anxiety Sensitivity in the Relation Between Avoidant Coping and Posttraumatic Stress Among Trauma-Exposed HIV+ Individuals

The current study examined the mediating role of anxiety sensitivity in regard to the relation between avoidant coping and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms among trauma-exposed persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Participants included 103 PLHA (18.4% female, Mage = 48.33, SD = 9.34). Results indicated significant positive indirect effects for avoidant coping through anxiety sensitivity on overall PTS symptoms (point estimate = .27, PB 95% CI [.01, .65]), PTS hyperarousal symptoms (point estimate = .09, PB 95% CI [.01, .21]), and PTS avoidant symptoms (point estimate = .14, PB 95% CI [.03, .30]). The observed findings were statistically significant and evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by CD4 cell count, race, sex, recruitment site, and lifetime number of traumatic events experienced. The results may indicate that avoidant coping affects PTS symptoms through anxiety sensitivity among trauma-exposed PLHA. These findings highlight the importance of anxiety sensitivity in relation to PTS symptoms among PLHA, and the possibility of adapting anxiety sensitivity reduction training for PTS symptoms among PLHA.