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Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 6/2020

01-12-2020 | Anxiety | Full length manuscript

The Role of Distress Tolerance as a Potential Mechanism Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Gut-Specific Anxiety

Authors: Casey D. Wright, Cecelia I. Nelson, Jamey T. Brumbaugh, Daniel W. McNeil

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2020

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Abstract

Background

The link between anxiety/fear and gut dysfunction has been robustly documented in both physical and mental health literatures. The current study explored distress tolerance as a potential mechanism in the relation between anxiety sensitivity and gut-specific anxiety.

Method

A cross-sectional sample of 828 adults completed measures of distress tolerance, gut-specific anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine variable associations, including potential mediating factors.

Results

The results demonstrated a bidirectional relation between anxiety sensitivity and gut-specific anxiety (ß = 0.23, p < 0.001; ß = 0.22, p < 0.001). Findings suggest distress tolerance is a significant mediator that may partially explain the relation between gut-specific anxiety and anxiety sensitivity more broadly (ß = 0.11, CI [0.07–0.14]). Mediation results were consistent when individual subscales of distress tolerance or anxiety sensitivity were incorporated.

Conclusion

The outcome of the present study merits additional examination of the psychosomatic nature of distress tolerance as a potential clinical target for individuals with both anxiety and gut-related disorders.
Appendix
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Footnotes
1
Fear and stress also are likely involved; the terminology in describing these states is inexact, so “anxiety” will be used as an omnibus term for the purposes of this paper (see Felicione et al. [7]).
 
2
Moderation models also were conducted. Distress tolerance was not a statistically significant moderator in the relation between anxiety sensitivity and gut-specific anxiety while accounting for covariates.
 
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Metadata
Title
The Role of Distress Tolerance as a Potential Mechanism Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Gut-Specific Anxiety
Authors
Casey D. Wright
Cecelia I. Nelson
Jamey T. Brumbaugh
Daniel W. McNeil
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Keyword
Anxiety
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 6/2020
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09912-6

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