Naslov
Perceived parent and peer alienation and its relations to anxiety sensitivity, pathological worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

Autori
Čuržik, Doris ; Salkičević, Svjetlana

Izvornik
Australian psychologist (0005-0067) 51 (2016), 3; 223-230

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
anxiety sensitivity; attachment; generalized anxiety disorder; peer alienation; worry
(anxiety sensitivity; attachment; generalized anxiety disorder; peer alienation; worry.)

Sažetak
Studies have only recently begun to explore the role of interpersonal factors in relation to anxiety sensitivity, a trait that has been hypothesized as a risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders. Therefore, the goal of this research was to further investigate the relations between anxiety sensitivity, worry, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms and parent and peer attachment, more specifically – perceived parent and peer alienation on a clinical sample for the first time. The mediating role of anxiety sensitivity between perceptions of alienation and current worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms was also examined. Analyses were conducted on a total sample of 72 psychiatric patients with diagnosed anxiety or depression disorder who completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-IV, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Inventory of Parent and Peer attachment and Anxiety Sensitivity Index. All patients were Caucasian, and 48.6% of participants were men (Mage=44.2 years) and 51.2% were women (Mage= 41.1 years). Participants with higher intensity of worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms reported higher perceptions of being alienated only from their peers. Also, anxiety sensitivity mediated the relation between perceptions of alienation from peers and worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. Perceptions of peer rather than parent alienation appear to be a salient construct in relation to present levels of anxiety sensitivity, uncontrollable worry and generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in individuals with a diagnosis of mental illness. Implications for cognitive-behavioral therapy practitioners are also shortly discussed.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA