Personality and experiential avoidance: A model of anxiety sensitivity

Recent evidence suggests that an interaction of personality dimensions and self-regulatory mechanisms partially explains the development of anxiety-related psychopathology. We examined the associations between behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity, negative emotionality (NE), anxiety sensitivity (AS), and experiential avoidance (EA) to understand the role of personality dimensions and self-regulatory mechanisms in relation to anxiety disorder risk. In a sample of 675 undergraduates, we used path analysis models to examine the associations between the study variables. The results suggest a positive relationship between BIS sensitivity and EA, and between EA and AS. Therefore, there is an indirect path between BIS sensitivity and AS through EA. Further, the relationship between EA and AS was stronger for men than for women. The examination of an alternative model indicated poor fit and provides evidence for a model of AS that includes personality dimensions and EA.

► We examined the relationship between BIS, NE, EA, and AS.
► We investigated EA as an intervening variable between BIS and AS and NE and AS.
► BIS was associated with EA and EA with AS.
► NE was linked with EA and AS for women; the finding was invariant across gender.
► The relationship between EA and AS was stronger for men than women.