The utility of the bifactor model in understanding unique components of anxiety sensitivity in a South Korean sample

• Extends applicabiltiy of bifactor model for Anxiety Sensitivity to East Asian samples.
• Reveals unique bifactor structure that omits Cognitive Concerns factor among Koreans.
• Identifies how to best model Anxiety Sensitivity for SEM in non-US East Asian samples.
• Supports the general AS factor as the best predictor of external variables.

The present study was the first to examine the applicability of the bifactor structure underlying the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) in an East Asian (South Korean) sample and to determine which factors in the bifactor model were significantly associated with anxiety, depression, and negative affect. Using a sample of 289 South Korean university students, we compared (a) the original 3-factor AS model, (b) a 3-group bifactor AS model, and (c) a 2-group bifactor AS model (with only the physical and social concern group factors present). Results revealed that the 2-group bifactor AS model fit the ASI-3 data the best. Relatedly, although all ASI-3 items loaded on the general AS factor, the Cognitive Concern group factor was not defined in the bifactor model and may therefore need to be omitted in order to accurately model AS when conducting factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) in cross cultural contexts. SEM results also revealed that the general AS factor was the only factor from the 2-group bifactor model that significantly predicted anxiety, depression, and negative affect. Implications and importance of this new bifactor structure of Anxiety Sensitivity in East Asian samples are discussed.