Assessment of anxiety sensitivity in young American Indians and Alaska Natives

In the present study, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index [ASI; Behav. Res. Ther. 24 (1986) 1] was administered to 282 American Indian and Alaska Native col lege students in a preliminary effort to: (a) evaluate the factor structure and internal consistency of the ASI in a sample of Native Americans; (b) e xamine whether this group would report greater levels of anxiety sensitivit y and gender and age-matched college students from the majority (Caucasian) culture lesser such levels; and (c) explore whether gender differences in anxiety sensitivity dimensions varied by cultural group (Native American vs . Caucasian). Consistent with existing research, results of this investigat ion indicated that, among Native peoples, the ASI and its subscales had hig h levels of internal consistency, and a factor structure consisting of thre e lower-order factors (i.e. Physical, Psychological, and Social Concerns) t hat all loaded on a single higher-order (global Anxiety Sensitivity) factor . We also found that these Native American college students reported signif icantly greater overall ASI scores as well as greater levels of Psychologic al and Social Concerns relative to counterparts from the majority (Caucasia n) culture. There were no significant differences detected for ASI physical threat concerns. In regard to gender, we found significant differences bet ween males and females in terms of total and Physical Threat ASI scores, wi th females reporting greater levels, and males lesser levels, of overall an xiety sensitivity and greater fear of physical sensations: no significant d ifferences emerged between genders for the ASI Psychological and Social Con cerns dimensions. These gender differences did not vary by cultural group, indicating they were evident among Caucasian and Native Americans alike. We discuss the results of this investigation in relation to the assessment of anxiety sensitivity in American Indians and Alaska Natives, and offer dire ctions for future research with the ASI in Native peoples. (C) 2001 Elsevie r Science Ltd. All rights reserved.