(PS2-A23) Resilience Moderates the Relation Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Functional Impairment in Individuals with Elevated Anxiety

Background: Anxiety symptoms are associated with distress and functional impairment that impact an individual’s quality of life. Previous studies have shown that psychological resilience may mitigate adverse effects of stress and anxiety (Poole et al., 2017; Smida et al., 2021). Transdiagnostic factors such as anxiety sensitivity and resilience may contribute to the overall functional impact of anxiety symptoms, but the relationship is unclear (Warren et al., 2021). In the current study, we examined associations between anxiety sensitivity, functional impairment, and resilience in those with heightened anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that higher levels of resilience would be associated with lower levels of functional impairment and that resilience would moderate the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and functional impairment.

Methods: 125 participants were enrolled in an online study examining emotional wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants with elevated anxiety (Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale score ≥ 8) completed the following measures: Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) in September 2020. Regression analyses were conducted to test the moderating role of resilience on the relation between anxiety sensitivity and functional impairment.

Results: A significant (positive) association was found between functional impairment and anxiety sensitivity (b=.30, p < .001), and the overall model was significant, F(3, 110) = 11.83, p < 0.001, R2 = .24. Additionally, the interaction between anxiety sensitivity and resilience was significant, b = 0.13, t(110) = 2.60, p < 0.05 suggesting that resilience moderates the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and functional impairment.

Conclusions: Individuals with high anxiety sensitivity and low resilience should be monitored during high periods of stress (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) to assess for potential impairment in daily functioning. Future research should continue to explore the role of resilience as a potential buffer to the impact of heightened anxiety on psychosocial functioning.