engleski

A prospective role of Anxiety Sensitivity on OCD and PTSD symptoms in pandemic and earthquake: The evidence of a long-term psychological vulnerability

The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the prospective and predictive role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) to the intensity of obsessive- compulsive (OCD) symptoms and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the context of experiencing pandemic stress, the earthquake which hit Croatia during the pandemic period, and fear of coronavirus. The first wave of the research was conducted in 2014 measuring AS and the second wave in 2021 using the online survey method as a continuation of a large research project. The study involved 144 participants, of whom 85% were female. Participants completed a short demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on the number and intensity of stress experiences during coronavirus pandemic and earthquake, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Multidimensional Assessment of COVID-19- Related Fears, Short form of Dimensional OCD Scale, and Impact of Event Scale. The results showed that the AS level measured in 2014, fear of coronavirus, and intensity of stress positively correlated with the intensity of OCD symptoms. AS measured in 2014 has shown to be a significant predictor of OCD and PTSD symptoms intensity in 2021. In total, about 30% of the variances of the OCD and PTSD symptoms were explained by the intensity of stress, fear of coronavirus, and AS. Fear of coronavirus has been shown to be a significant mediator of the AS 7 years ago and the intensity of OCD symptoms association. In comparison, stress intensity has not been shown to be a significant mediator of the AS 7 years ago and the PTSD symptoms intensity in 2021 relation. The current study's results confirm the diathesis- stress model in the development of mental health problems where the AS level serves as a long-term vulnerability trait.

OCD, PTSD, stress intensity, fear of coronavirus, anxiety sensitivity

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