Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

New Evidence on the Construct Validity of the ASI-3 and the Dimensional Conceptualization of Trait Anxiety Sensitivity From IRT Modeling

Published Online:August 28, 2015https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000284

Abstract

Abstract. Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) denotes the tendency to fear anxiety-related sensations. Trait AS is an established risk factor for anxiety pathology. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) is a widely used measure of AS and its three most robust dimensions with well-established construct validity. At present, the dimensional conceptualization of AS, and thus, the construct validity of the ASI-3 is challenged. A latent class structure with two distinct and qualitatively different forms, an adaptive form (normative AS) and a maladaptive form (AS taxon, predisposing for anxiety pathology) was postulated. Item Response Theory (IRT) models were applied to item-level data of the ASI-3 in an attempt to replicate previous findings in a large nonclinical sample (N = 2,603) and to examine possible interpretations for the latent discontinuity observed. Two latent classes with a pattern of distinct responses to ASI-3 items were found. However, classes were indicative of participant’s differential use of the response scale (midpoint and extreme response style) rather than differing in AS content (adaptive and maladaptive AS forms). A dimensional structure of AS and the construct validity of the ASI-3 was supported.

References

  • Armstrong, K. A., Khawaja, N. G. & Oei, T. P. S. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-Revised in clinical and normative populations. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 22, 116–125. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759.22.2.116 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Austin, E. J., Deary, I. J. & Egan, V. (2006). Individual differences in response scale use: Mixed Rasch modelling of responses to NEO-FFI items. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1235–1245. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bernstein, A., Stickle, T. R., Zvolensky, M. J., Taylor, S., Abramowitz, J. & Stewart, S. (2010). Dimensional, categorical, or dimensional-categories: Testing the latent structure of anxiety sensitivity among adults using factor-mixture modeling. Behavior Therapy, 41, 515–529. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bernstein, A., Zvolensky, M. J., Norton, P. J., Schmidt, N. B., Taylor, S., Forsyth, J. P., … Cox, B. (2007). Taxometric and factor analytic models of anxiety sensitivity: Integrating approaches to latent structural research. Psychological Assessment, 19, 74–87. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Bolt, D. M. & Johnson, T. R. (2009). Addressing score bias and differential item functioning due to individual differences in response style. Applied Psychological Measurement, 33, 335–352. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Broman-Fulks, J. J., Deacon, B. J., Olatunji, B. O., Bondy, C. L., Abramowitz, J. S. & Tolin, D. F. (2010). Categorical or dimensional: A reanalysis of the anxiety sensitivity construct. Behavior Therapy, 41, 154–171. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Broman-Fulks, J. J., Green, B. A., Berman, M. E., Olatunji, B. O., Arnau, R. C., Deacon, B. J. & Sawchuk, C. N. (2008). The latent structure of anxiety sensitivity – revisited. Assessment, 15, 188–203. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Cohen, J. (1992). A power primer. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 155–159. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Eid, M. & Zickar, M. J. (2007). Detecting response styles and faking in personality and organizational assessments by mixed Rasch models. In M. von DavierC. H. CarstensenEds., Multivariate and mixture distribution Rasch Models. Extensions and applications (pp. 255–271). New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media LLC. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Jackson, D. N. & Messick, S. (1958). Content and style in personality assessment. Psychological Bulletin, 55, 243–252. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Jasper, F., Nater, U. M., Hiller, W., Ehlert, U., Fischer, S. & Witthöft, M. (2013). Rasch scalability of the somatosensory amplification scale: A mixture distribution approach. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 74, 469–478. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kemper, C. J., Lutz, J., Bähr, T., Rüddel, H. & Hock, M. (2011). Construct validity of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 in clinical samples. Assessment, 19, 89–100. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Kemper, C. J., Ziegler, M. & Taylor, S. (2009). Überprüfung der psychometrischen Qualität der deutschen Version des Angstsensitivitätsindex-3 [Psychometric properties of the German version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index 3]. Diagnostica, 55, 223–233. doi: 10.1026/0012-1924.55.4.223 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Meiser, T. & Machunsky, M. (2008). The personal structure of personal need for structure – a mixture-distribution Rasch analysis. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 24, 27–34. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759.22.2.116 First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Naragon-Gainey, K. (2010). Meta-analysis of the relations of anxiety sensitivity to the depressive and anxiety disorders. Psychological Bulletin, 136, 128–150. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Plehn, K. & Peterson, R. A. (2002). Anxiety sensitivity as a predictor of the development of panic, symptoms, panic attacks, and panic disorder: A prospective study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16, 455–474. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rammstedt, B. & Kemper, C. J. (2011). Measurement equivalence of the Big Five: Shedding further light on potential causes of the educational bias. Journal of Research in Personality, 45, 121–125. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rammstedt, B., Kemper, C. J. & Borg, I. (2013). Correcting Big Five personality measurements for acquiescence: An 18‐country cross‐cultural study. European Journal of Personality, 27, 71–81. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Reiss, S. (1991). Expectancy model of fear, anxiety, and panic. Clinical Psychology Review, 11, 141–153. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rost, J. (1990). Rasch models in latent classes – an integration of two approaches to item analysis. Applied Psychological Measurement, 14, 271–282. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rost, J. (1996). Lehrbuch Testtheorie, Testkonstruktion [Manual for Test Theory and Test Construction]. Bern, Switzerland: Huber. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Rost, J., Carstensen, C. & von Davier, M. (1997). Applying the mixed rasch model to personality questionnaires. In J. RostR. LangeheineJ. RostEds., Applications of latent trait and latent class models in the social sciences (pp. 324–332). Münster, Germany: Waxmann. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Rost, J., Carstensen, C. H. & Davier, M. von. (1999). Sind die Big Five Rasch-skalierbar? Eine Reanalyse der NEO-FFI-Normierungsdaten [Are the Big Five Rasch scalable? A reanalysis of the NEO-FFI norm data]. Diagnostica, 45, 119–127. First citation in articleLink, Google Scholar

  • Ruscio, J. & Ruscio, A. M. (2002). A structure-based approach to psychological assessment: Matching measurement models to latent structure. Assessment, 9, 4–16. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schmidt, N. B. (1999). Prospecitve evaluation of anxiety sensitivity. In S. TaylorEd., Anxiety sensitivity – theory, research, and treatment of the fear of anxiety (pp. 61–82). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Schmidt, N. B., Keough, M. E., Mitchell, M. A., Reynolds, E. K., MacPherson, L., Zvolensky, M. J. & Lejuez, C. W. (2010). Anxiety sensitivity: Prospective prediction of anxiety among early adolescents. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24, 503–508. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schmidt, N. B., Lerew, D. R. & Trakowski, J. H. (1997). Body vigilance in panic disorder: Evaluating attention to bodily perturbations. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 214–220. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Schmidt, N. B., Zvolensky, M. J. & Maner, J. K. (2006). Anxiety sensitivity: Prospective prediction of panic attacks and Axis I pathology. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 40, 691–699. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Taylor, S. & Cox, B. J. (1998). An expanded anxiety sensitivity index: Evidence for a hierarchic structure in a clinical sample. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 12, 463–483. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Taylor, S., Zvolensky, M. J., Cox, B. J., Deacon, B., Heimberg, R. G., Ledley, D. R., … Cardenas, S. J. (2007). Robust dimensions of anxiety sensitivity: Development and initial validation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3. Psychological Assessment, 19, 176–188. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Waller, N. G. & Meehl, P. E. (1998). Multivariate taxometric procedures: Distinguishing types from continua. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Watson, D. & Friend, R. (1969). Measurement of social-evaluative anxiety. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 33, 448–457. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wheaton, M. G., Deacon, B. J., McGrath, P. B., Berman, N. C. & Abramowitz, J. S. (2012). Dimensions of anxiety sensitivity in the anxiety disorders: Evaluation of the ASI-3. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26, 401–408. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Ziegler, M. & Kemper, C. J. (2013). Extreme response style and faking: Two sides of the same coin?. In P. WinkerN. MenoldR. PorstEds., Interviewers deviations in surveys – impact, reasons, detection and prevention (pp. 217–233). Frankfurt a. M.: Peter Lang. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Zinbarg, R. E., Barlow, D. H. & Brown, T. A. (1997). Hierarchical structure and general factor saturation of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index: Evidence and implications. Psychological Assessment, 9, 277–284. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar