Anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress facets among Latinx in primary care.

Abstract

The present investigation examined associations between anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress, both as a global construct and in relation to each of its facets. We hypothesized that anxiety sensitivity would significantly predict acculturative stress (and its facets), over and above the variance accounted for by gender, age, marital status, years of education, employment status, number of years living in United States, and negative affectivity. Participants (N ϭ 142; M ϭ 39.1 years, SD ϭ 12.4; 96% reported Spanish as their first language) were recruited from a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving the primary care needs of predominantly low-income Latinx. Participants completed an assessment battery that included a clinical interview and self-report instruments. Results showed that anxiety sensitivity explained 3-9% of the variance in acculturative stress dimensions after accounting for the effects of covariates. The findings underscore the value of examining proximal psychosocial variables which are often not the focus of studies on acculturation and acculturative stress. From an intervention standpoint, greater attention to proximal and malleable processes related to acculturative stress is warranted in efforts to reduce health disparities and increase wellbeing in this population.

COVID-19 and Anxiety Sensitivity Across Two Studies in Argentina: Associations with COVID-19 Worry, Symptom Severity, Anxiety, and Functional Impairment

“…Results from both samples provide evidence that AS is significantly positively associated with COVID-related worry, anxiety, functional impairment and symptoms severity, and these associations were evident over and above the variance accounted for by age, sex, pre-existing medical conditions, and possible COVID-19 exposure. These results are in line with past work among Latinx adults documenting associations between AS and mental health outcomes (e.g., Viana et al 2020 ; Zvolensky et al 2020d ), and extends the findings to COVID-19 specific mental health and functional outcomes. Additionally, the finding that AS is related to more severe COVID-19 symptoms independent of COVID-19 exposure is particularly clinically important, as AS has been shown to be associated with increased risk of chronic medical conditions (Horenstein et al 2018 ; Lipsitz et al 2004 ), and may worsen COVID-19 outcomes for those with the virus.…”

“…Furthermore, since AS amplifies the affective response to somatic perturbation (Drahovzal et al 2006 ; Varela et al 2007 ), AS may be particularly important to the Latinx population. Consistent with this formulation, non-COVID-19 related research has found that AS is associated with greater anxiety (Zvolensky et al 2018b ), depression (Zvolensky et al 2020b ), stress (Viana et al 2020 ), posttraumatic stress (Zvolensky et al 2020d ), pain (Bakhshaie et al 2019 ; Kauffman et al 2019 ), and substance use problems (Zvolensky et al 2020a ) among Latinx adults. Work among trauma-exposed Latinx samples, which is likely relevant to the current COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that AS is associated both with elevated mental health complaints as well as acculturative stress (Zvolensky et al 2018a ).…”

“…Anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as fear of fear (physical, cognitive, and social sensations) (Reiss et al 1986;Reiss and McNally 1985), is a malleable trait-like individual difference factor that may increase vulnerability to the negative mental health effects of COVID-19, and has been specifically linked to heightened mental health complaints among Latinx (Viana et al 2020;Zvolensky et al 2020b). Although literature examining AS in terms of COVID-19-specific mental health factors, particularly among Latinx persons, is non-existent, past related work suggests that AS may partially explain (mediate) the relationship between stressful life events and anxiety symptoms (McLaughlin and Hatzenbuehler 2009).…”

Acculturative Stress and the Effects on Health and Health Behaviors in Hispanic Immigrants: A Systematic Review

“…Of the 32 articles, 23 referred to the participants as “Latino” (Bakhshaie et al, 2018; Castillo et al, 2015; Corona et al, 2017; Ertl et al, 2018; Gutierrez-Vazquez et al, 2018; Hill et al, 2019; Leong et al, 2013; Maldonado et al, 2018; Mayorga et al, 2018; Panchang et al, 2016; Paulus et al, 2019; Ramos et al, 2015; Rivera et al, 2015; Rogers-Sirin, 2013; Salgado et al, 2012; Sanchez et al, 2016; Savage & Mezuk, 2014; Schachter et al, 2012; Torres et al, 2012; Viana et al, 2020; Waldman et al, 2019; Zvolensky et al, 2018, 2020). There were two studies that referred to the sample population as “Hispanic” (Cervantes et al, 2013; Zvolensky et al, 2016).…”

“…Of the reviewed articles, 81.2% investigated the interaction of acculturative stress on mental health (Bakhshaie et al, 2018; Capielo et al, 2015; Castillo et al, 2015; Cervantes et al, 2013, 2019; Corona et al, 2017; Gutierrez-Vazquez et al, 2018; Hill et al, 2019; Kiang et al, 2010; Leong et al, 2013; Maldonado et al, 2018; Mayorga et al, 2018; Panchang et al, 2016; Paulus et al, 2019; Perreira et al, 2019; Ramos et al, 2015; Rivera et al, 2015; Rogers-Sirin, 2013; Salgado et al, 2012; Schachter et al, 2012; Torres et al, 2012; Viana et al, 2020; Zvolensky et al, 2016, 2018, 2020). Most of these studies found that increased acculturative stress led to increased depression, anxiety, and psychological stress (Capielo et al, 2015; Castillo et al, 2015; Cervantes et al, 2013, 2019; Corona et al, 2017; Gutierrez-Vazquez et al, 2018; Hill et al, 2019; Kiang et al, 2010; Leong et al, 2013; Maldonado et al, 2018; Mayorga et al, 2018; Muñoz et al, 2019; Paulus et al, 2019; Perreira et al, 2019; Rogers-Sirin, 2013; Torres et al, 2012; Zvolensky et al, 2016, 2018, 2020), while another study indicated that acculturative stress was an indirect effect on anxiety and mood disorders (Bakhshaie et al, 2018).…”