Anxiety between personality and cognition: The gray zone

•The rRST dimensions were related to two cognitive vulnerabilities to anxiety.•BIS predicted all components of Anxiety Sensitivity and Intolerance of Uncertainty.•Freeze predicted positively the fear of physical symptoms and Inhibitory Anxiety.•Flight was positively related to the fear of public display of anxiety symptoms.

The aim of the study was to explore relations between Gray’s revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (rRST) systems (Behavior Inhibition, Behavior Activation and Fight/Flight/Freeze System – BIS, BAS and FFFS) and two cognitive vulnerabilities to anxiety disorders (Intolerance of Uncertainty – IU and Anxiety Sensitivity – AS). The sample comprised 223 participants. The results suggested that BIS was a significant predictor of all components of the anxiety vulnerability measures. However, Freeze and Flight had also significant contributions, particularly in explaining vulnerabilities to physical and social threats as well as inhibitory behaviours while facing uncertainty. The findings provide insights into the nature of AS and IU which is in accordance with the rRST.