The Structure and Correlates of Anxiety Sensitivity in Older Adults

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) has been defined as the fear of symptoms of anxiety and panic, and is most frequently assessed with the Anxiety Sensitivity Index ( Peterson & Reiss, 1987 ). To investigate the nature and structure of AS in an older sample, data were collected from a sample of 322 adults aged 65 to 97, with mean age 75. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a hierarchical structure with three group factors (physical concerns, mental incapacitation concerns, and social concerns), as well as a general factor, consistent with previous investigations. Results suggest that the nature and structure of the AS trait in older adults are highly similar to those of younger adults.