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Black individuals who smoke in the United States experience health disparities related to tobacco use (e.g., greater nicotine dependence, less success in quitting smoking) and interoceptive distress (e.g., somatic symptoms, anxiety). Individual difference factors that amplify interoceptive distress and contribute to poorer smoking behaviors and outcomes warrant further attention and investigation. Thus, the present study sought to explore the association between anxiety sensitivity and clinically-relevant smoking variables of perceived barriers for quitting, smoking inflexibility, and problems experienced during past quit attempts. Participants in the current study included 98 Black adult smokers (71.4% male; M age = 44.08 years, SD  = 11.44 years). Results indicated greater levels of anxiety sensitivity were associated with greater levels of perceived barriers for quitting smoking ( b  = 0.10, SE  = 0.08, p  = 0.01), smoking inflexibility ( b  = 0.02, SE <.001, p <.001), and problems experienced during past smoking quit attempts ( b  = 0.17, SE  = 0.07, p  = 0.02). Clinical implications and future directions are further discussed as it relates to anxiety sensitivity and efforts to reduce or quit smoking for this health disparities population.

As a multi-systemic disease, COVID-19 infection engendered a rise in co-occurring mental and physical health symptoms, particularly affecting the Latinx population. The current work sought to evaluate the main and interactive influence of acculturative stress and anxiety sensitivity in terms of mental and physical health symptoms among 181 Latinx persons (30.4% female, M age  = 8.20). Data were collected during a period of high COVID-19 impact (2020-2021) and analyses included five separate, two-step hierarchical regressions that were conducted for each of the criterion variables: (1) fear of coronavirus; (2) somatic symptoms; (3) fatigue severity; (4) anxiety symptoms; and (5) depression symptoms. For all analyses, step 1 covariates included years living in the U.S. COVID-19 impact, gender identity, education, and work life distress and home life distress. Results revealed an interactive effect of anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress on COVID-19 fear, unique main effects for both anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress on COVID-19 related fear and somatic symptoms, and main effects for anxiety sensitivity alone in relation to fatigue severity, anxiety, and depression. Overall, this study represents an initial investigation of the associations between acculturative stress, anxiety sensitivity, and a range of salient COVID-19 related outcomes among Latinx persons.SD  = 8.20). Data were collected during a period of high COVID-19 impact (2020-2021) and analyses included five separate, two-step hierarchical regressions that were conducted for each of the criterion variables: (1) fear of coronavirus; (2) somatic symptoms; (3) fatigue severity; (4) anxiety symptoms; and (5) depression symptoms. For all analyses, step 1 covariates included years living in the U.S. COVID-19 impact, gender identity, education, and work life distress and home life distress. Results revealed an interactive effect of anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress on COVID-19 fear, unique main effects for both anxiety sensitivity and acculturative stress on COVID-19 related fear and somatic symptoms, and main effects for anxiety sensitivity alone in relation to fatigue severity, anxiety, and depression. Overall, this study represents an initial investigation of the associations between acculturative stress, anxiety sensitivity, and a range of salient COVID-19 related outcomes among Latinx persons.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has risen exponentially since its initial introduction. The widespread and growing use of these novel products has prompted increased research to evaluate use from a nuanced perspective that considers patterns and antecedents of use. Specifically, research has identified sociodemographic characteristics related to varying levels of e-cigarette use frequency. Yet, limited research has investigated broad-based psychological factors related to frequent and infrequent e-cigarette use. The current study sought to address this clinically relevant research gap within a cross sectional design. Several affective vulnerability states were evaluated, including anxiety sensitivity, anxious arousal, general distress, and anhedonia across 566 (51.1% female, Mage = 35.3 years, SD = 10.1) non-daily and daily past month, adult e-cigarette users. Results demonstrated that in comparison to non-daily e-cigarette users, daily users evinced significantly higher levels of anxiety sensitivity, anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns, anxiety sensitivity social concerns, anxiety sensitivity physical concerns, anxious arousal, and general distress. No significant differences were found for anhedonic depression. Overall, the current study provides initial and novel empirical evidence that certain affective vulnerability constructs related to anxiety may be more strongly endorsed by daily e-cigarette users. Importantly, this work adds to evolving, but underdeveloped, e-cigarette models by highlighting the need to consider anxiety-related constructs when evaluating e-cigarette use patterns and behavior.

There is limited understanding of pain and its relationship to emotional eating among Latinos as well as knowledge about potential mechanisms that may underlie their association. We explored whether anxiety sensitivity (fear of the negative consequences of anxiety) explained the relation between pain intensity and emotional eating among a sample of Latinos. Participants were 79 (87.3% female; M age  = 42.04, SD = 12.01) predominately female Latino attendees of a Federally Qualified Health Center. As hypothesized, results indicated that pain intensity yielded a significant indirect effect through anxiety sensitivity for emotional eating. Alternative models wherein anxiety sensitivity served as the predictor and pain intensity as the indirect effect were also significant. Such novel data highlight the potential bi-directional relationship between pain intensity and anxiety sensitivity in terms of emotional eating. Overall, pain intensity and anxiety sensitivity may serve as mechanisms that underlie emotional eating among Latino adults.

Introduction: Although e-cigarette use is on the rise among youth and adults, there is little understanding of the individual difference factors at a cognitive level of analysis for e-cigarette beliefs and quit behavior., Method: The present investigation sought to test a theoretically driven interactive model of positive expectancies for e-cigarettes and anxiety sensitivity (fear of the consequences of anxiety) among 551 adult e-cigarette users (50.6% female, Mage = 35.2 years, SD = 10.1)., Results: Results indicated a significant interaction between positive expectancies for e-cigarette use and AS was significantly related to greater perceived benefits of e-cigarette use, greater perceived risk of e-cigarette use, and more serious attempts for trying to quit e-cigarettes. The significant interaction effect for each dependent variable was evident over and above the main effects as well as the covariates of sex, income, education, and concurrent combustible cigarette use. The form of this interaction indicated that e-cigarette users higher in AS who also maintained more positive outcome expectancies for e-cigarette use reported more perceived benefits as well as more perceived risk of e-cigarette use and engaged in more (failed) attempts to quit e-cigarettes., Conclusions: Overall, the current data suggest that individual differences in AS and positive expectancies may represent two important factors to consider in e-cigarette beliefs and quit attempts., Implications: This study provides the first empirical evidence of a transdiagnostic construct (anxiety sensitivity) in relation to e-cigarette use and how it interplays with positive expectancies for e-cigarette use beliefs and behavior. These novel data suggest that future clinical research may benefit by understanding the potential therapeutic role of anxiety sensitivity and expectancies for e-cigarette use behavior., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Although electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are an increasingly common form of substance use, there is little understanding of individual differences that may relate to such use. The present investigation examined interactive effects between the cognitive factor of anxiety sensitivity and pain severity in relation to e-cigarette dependence, perceived risks of e-cigarette use, and perceived benefits of e-cigarette use., Method: Participants were 319 e-cigarette users (60.5% female, mean age = 36.82 years, SD = 10.62)., Results: As expected, the interaction between anxiety sensitivity and pain severity was significantly related to increased e-cigarette dependence, perceived risks of e-cigarette use, and perceived benefits of e-cigarette use. The effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by sex, age, income, education, dual combustible cigarette use, and e-cigarette use frequency. The form of the significant interaction indicated that participants reporting co-occurring higher levels of anxiety sensitivity and pain severity evinced greater e-cigarette dependence, perceived risks of e-cigarette use, and perceived benefits of e-cigarette use., Conclusions: The present findings suggest there needs to be further study of anxiety sensitivity and pain severity in the context of e-cigarette use, as there may be benefit to screening for and clinically addressing these factors to help offset e-cigarette use.

The present study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of the negative consequences of anxiety) in the relation between perceived racial discrimination and pain-related problems among Latinos seeking health services at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Participants included 145 adult Latinos (87.80% female, M age  = 38.07 years, SD = 11.98, and 96.2% reported Spanish as their first language). Results indicated that perceived racial discrimination was indirectly related to the pain intensity and pain disability through AS. These effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by gender, age, marital status, educational status, employment status, years living in the United States, and number of axis I diagnoses. Overall, the present findings highlight the merit in focusing further scientific attention on the interplay between perceived racial discrimination and AS to better understand and inform interventions to reduce pain problems among Latinos in primary care.

Although electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is now a common substance use behavior, there is little understanding of the individual difference factors related to e-cigarette use beliefs and dependence. The present investigation sought to test a theoretically-driven model of anxiety sensitivity as an explanatory element in a worry-e-cigarette beliefs and dependence model. Participants included 558 adult e-cigarette users (51.4% female; 35.2 years, SD = 10.1) who were nationally recruited via an online survey system. Participants completed a single survey that assessed their mood and e-cigarette behavior and beliefs. Results supported a statistically significant indirect pathway for worry in relation to perceived benefits of e-cigarettes, e-cigarette positive outcome expectancies, and e-cigarette dependence via anxiety sensitivity; effect sizes were small. The indirect effects were evident when accounting for several theoretically relevant covariates (sex, income, education, concurrent cigarette use, and neuroticism). This study provides the first empirical evidence of the role of anxiety sensitivity in the relation between worry and e-cigarette use beliefs and behavior, which may represent a novel intervention target., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Anxiety sensitivity, defined as the fear of anxiety and arousal-related sensations, has been among the most influential cognitive-based transdiagnostic risk and maintenance factors in the study and treatment of emotional and related disorders. The currently available anxiety sensitivity measures are limited by their length. Specifically, the length of these instruments discourages the adoption of routine anxiety sensitivity assessment in clinical or medical settings (e.g., primary care). The goals of this study were to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a short version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3; Taylor et al., 2007), entitled the Short Scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index (SSASI), using three independent clinical samples. Results indicated that the abbreviated five-item version of the SSASI had good internal consistency and a robust association with the ASI-3. Further, across the samples, there was evidence of unidimensionality and excellent convergent and discriminant validity. There also was evidence of partial measurement invariance across sex and full measurement invariance across time. Overall, the five-item scale offers a single score that can be employed to measure anxiety sensitivity. Use of the SSASI may facilitate screening efforts and symptom tracking for anxiety sensitivity, particularly within clinical settings where practical demands necessitate the use of brief assessment instruments., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The present study examined the factor structure, invariance properties, reliability, and validity of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3, Taylor et al., 2007). Participants were recruited from a large, ethnically diverse southwestern university (n = 3651; 77.8% female; M age  = 22.06 years; 28% non-Hispanic White). Findings supported a bifactor structure for the ASI-3, which demonstrated measurement invariance across sex, race/ethnicity, age, and sexual minority status. Furthermore, the ASI-3 demonstrated strong reliability and validity, with the anxiety sensitivity general and specific factors (physical, cognitive, and social concerns) evidencing unique patterns of relations with symptoms of depression, suicidality, anxious arousal, and social anxiety. Clinically, these findings generally support the validity of the ASI-3 in measuring anxiety sensitivity across sex, age, race/ethnicity, and sexual minority status. Future work is needed to better understand the role anxiety sensitivity plays within specific demographic subgroups, particularly African-Americans, Asian Americans, and sexual minorities., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

There are elevated rates of trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and greater conditional risk of posttraumatic stress disorder among Latinx relative to other racial/ethnic groups. Such trauma-related health disparities serve to exacerbate or maintain acculturative and other types of stress among the Latinx population. Yet, little research has explored what types of individual difference factors may undergird variability in acculturative stress among trauma-exposed Latinx persons. Accordingly, the present investigation examined individual differences in anxiety sensitivity (fear of the negative consequences of stress sensations) in relation to acculturative stress among a large sample of trauma-exposed Latinx young adults ( n = 1,377 persons; M age = 2.50; age range: 18-29 years; 76.7% female). Results demonstrated that anxiety sensitivity explained 10.2% of unique variance in acculturative stress ( SD = 2.50; age range: 18-29 years; 76.7% female). Results demonstrated that anxiety sensitivity explained 10.2% of unique variance in acculturative stress ( p ² = .188) after accounting for age, sexual minority status, history of trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress symptom severity. Additionally, each of the 3 subfactors of anxiety sensitivity (Physical, Cognitive, and Social) were directly related to acculturative stress despite sharing variance with one another. Overall, the current findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity may be a heretofore underrecognized individual difference factor that is related to more severe acculturative stress among trauma-exposed Latinx young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).R ² = .188) after accounting for age, sexual minority status, history of trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress symptom severity. Additionally, each of the 3 subfactors of anxiety sensitivity (Physical, Cognitive, and Social) were directly related to acculturative stress despite sharing variance with one another. Overall, the current findings suggest that anxiety sensitivity may be a heretofore underrecognized individual difference factor that is related to more severe acculturative stress among trauma-exposed Latinx young adults. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

It is widely recognized that abdominal pain and discomfort are common problems in the United States and are often associated with negative quality of life. The prevalence of anxiety/depression elevations and disorders among persons with gastrointestinal disturbances (GI) is estimated to be at least two to three times the rate in the general population. Visceral sensitivity reflects anxiety about GI sensations and its accompanying contexts and often leads to worsening of sensations (e.g. bloating, upset stomach, diarrhea). Among individuals with GI symptoms, visceral sensitivity may be associated with interpreting common sensations as catastrophic which may be related to greater difficulties with emotion dysregulation (e.g. severe anxiety and depression). The current study evaluated the indirect association of visceral sensitivity via emotion dysregulation in relation to depression, anxious arousal, and social anxiety symptoms among 344 young adults with a current history of GI symptoms and problems. Results indicated an indirect effect of visceral sensitivity via emotion dysregulation. These findings provide novel empirical support for the association of visceral sensitivity with emotional distress symptoms among young adults with GI symptoms. Based on the results, targeting emotion dysregulation may be a promising health promotion tactic among young adults with GI symptoms and disorders.

Cannabis is among the most widely used psychoactive substances in the United States, and rates of cannabis use and cannabis-related problems are increasing. Anxiety sensitivity, or the fear of aversive interoceptive sensations, may be relevant to better understanding cannabis use problems and other significant cannabis use processes (e.g., beliefs about quitting). Previous research has primarily focused on the global anxiety sensitivity construct; however, anxiety sensitivity lower-order facets (Cognitive Concerns, Physical Concerns, and Social Concerns) tend to be differentially related to substance use processes in non-cannabis specific studies. The current study therefore explored anxiety sensitivity lower-order facets in relation to cannabis use problems, perceived barriers for cannabis cessation, and abstinence phobia (fear of not using cannabis) among a community sample of 203 cannabis-using adults. Results indicated that anxiety sensitivity Cognitive Concerns were significantly associated with each of the dependent measures and these effects were not explained by shared variance with the other lower-order factors or a range of other covariates (e.g., tobacco use). The present findings suggest future work may benefit from focusing on the role of anxiety sensitivity Cognitive Concerns in the maintenance of cannabis use., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The present study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity in the relation between acculturative stress and mood and anxiety symptoms and disorders among Latinos seeking health services at a primary healthcare facility. Participants included 142 adult Latinos (86.6% female, M age = 39.05 years, SD = 12.46%, and 96.3% reported Spanish as their first language). Results indicated that acculturative stress was indirectly related to the number of mood and anxiety disorders, anxious arousal, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms through anxiety sensitivity. The observed effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by gender, age, marital status, educational status, employment status, years living in the United States, and negative affectivity. Overall, the present findings suggest that there is merit in focusing further scientific attention on the interplay between acculturative stress and anxiety sensitivity to better understand and inform interventions to reduce anxiety/depressive vulnerability among Latinos in primary care., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Pain affects a significant proportion of college students in the United States and has been linked to anxiety and depressive symptoms. Rumination and worry, two transdiagnostic factors linked to comorbidity, may explain the relationship between pain and mental health symptoms. Current Study: The current study examined worry and rumination as explanatory factors in the relationship between pain and anxiety and depressive symptoms in a sample of college students with pain (n = 1,577; 79.9% female). Results: Results indicated that both rumination and worry explained the relationship between pain and depressive and social anxiety symptoms, while rumination alone explained the relationship between pain and anxious arousal symptoms. Conclusion: The current study provides novel empirical evidence that worry and rumination each help explain the relationship between pain and anxiety and depressive symptoms among college students with current pain, and college students in pain may benefit from targeted psychosocial strategies aimed at decreasing worry and ruminative responses.

The Latinx population is the largest minority group in the United States (U.S.) and is expected to continue to grow through at least 2050. Although there is growing recognition of the importance of pain among Latinx individuals, few studies have examined individualized psychological processes governing pain severity and disability in Latinx populations. One psychological factor that has shown promise in relation to pain experience specifically and clinical conditions more generally is anxiety sensitivity. The present investigation sought to (1) characterize the severity of pain among an unselected sample of adult Latinx individuals attending a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC); (2) evaluate the severity of anxiety sensitivity as a function of pain severity; and (3) test the potential explanatory relevance of anxiety sensitivity as an individual difference factor for pain intensity, pain disability, psychological inflexibility for emotional distress, and global life impairment. Participants included 406 adult Spanish-speaking Latinx persons (87.2% female; Mage = 40.26 years, SD = 11.20, and 98.3% used Spanish as their first language) who attended an FQHC in Houston, Texas. Analyses revealed that 62.6% of the sample had at least some pain, and 21.9% of the same had high intensity, moderate interference, or severe interference chronic pain. Further, results provided evidence for anxiety sensitivity as a function of pain grade, such that individuals with grade 2 (high-intensity pain), grade 3 (moderate pain interference), and grade 4 (severe pain interference) chronic pain reported significantly higher levels of anxiety sensitivity than those with grade 0 pain (no chronic pain). Additionally, after controlling for age, gender, marital status, years of education, years living in the U.S., and generalized anxiety, anxiety sensitivity significantly accounted for significant variance in pain intensity, inflexibility in relation to emotional distress, and life impairment. Overall, the current study builds upon what is currently understood about anxiety sensitivity among the Latinx population and uniquely extends past work by linking individual differences in this construct to clinically relevant aspects of pain experience and life impairment among adults attending FQHC's. Additional clinical attention should be focused on anxiety sensitivity to offset pain disparities among this established health disparities group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the United States and frequently experiences racial discrimination and mental health difficulties. Prior work suggests that perceived racial discrimination is a significant risk factor for poorer mental health among Hispanic in the United States. However, little work has investigated how perceived racial discrimination relates to anxiety and depression among Hispanic adults. Thus, the current study evaluated the explanatory role of experiential avoidance in the relation between perceived racial discrimination and anxiety/depressive symptoms and disorders among Hispanic adults in primary care. Participants included 202 Spanish-speaking adults (Mage = 38.99, SD = 12.43, 86.1% female) attending a community-based Federally Qualified Health Center. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that perceived racial discrimination had a significant indirect effect on depression, social anxiety, and anxious arousal symptoms as well as the number of mood and anxiety disorders through experiential avoidance. These findings suggest future work should continue to explore experiential avoidance in the association between perceived racial discrimination and other psychiatric and medical problems among the Hispanic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we provide information on e-cigarette use characteristics in relation to racial and ethnic characteristics in a sample of 535 adult e-cigarette users. We also evaluated how anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of anxiety) interacted with race/ethnicity to predict vaping outcomes. We found an association between greater AS and higher e-cigarette dependence for White, but not Black, participants. A similar trend was observed for level of risk perception. Also, Hispanic status was associated with higher perception of e-cigarette benefits. Overall, the present study contributes to the understanding of factors linked to e-cigarette use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has risen dramatically in the United States among young adults; however, little is understood about potential factors that are related to e-cigarette use and maintenance among this population. Fatigue severity is one promising individual difference factor, as past work indicates that it is related to greater withdrawal symptoms and greater dependence on e-cigarettes, and more barriers to quitting. In addition, anxiety sensitivity and severe fatigue are both uniquely related to poor e-cigarette use outcomes; yet, no known studies have examined whether these individual difference factors are related to e-cigarette outcomes among young adults. Method: The current study sought to examine the unique and interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity in predicting a variety of e-cigarette outcomes among 685 (69.1% female; Mage = 19.61 years, SD = 1.44) young adult e-cigarette users. Results: Results indicated that anxiety sensitivity was significantly associated with greater barriers for cessation (β =.63, p <.001) and e-cigarette cravings (β =.67, p =.001), but not dependence. Fatigue severity was significantly associated with greater e-cigarette dependence (β =.58, p <.001), barriers to cessation (β = 1.56, p <.001), and e-cigarette cravings (β = 3.34, p <.001). The interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity did not significantly predict the outcomes. Discussion: Results suggest that anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity independently predict greater e-cigarette maintenance factors among young adults. The current investigation highlights the importance of targeting anxiety sensitivity and fatigue severity among young adult e-cigarette users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigration enforcement policies and negative rhetoric about immigrants harm the psychological well-being of Latinx youth in immigrant families, particularly those who are most vulnerable because of their own or their loved ones' legal status. According to the Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies among Minority Children, discrimination may be one pathway to explain how vulnerability to restrictive immigration policies affects Latinx youth mental health. We collected data from 306 Latinx high school students from immigrant families in Harris County, Texas, and Rhode Island to (1) determine the direct effect of immigration enforcement fear (a proxy for the social position of vulnerable legal status) on adolescents' anxiety; (2) explore the effect of immigration enforcement fear on anxiety through the pathway of perceived discrimination; and (3) test whether the different enforcement climates in the two study sites moderate these pathways. Total anxiety and subscales measuring separation, social, school, generalized, and somatic anxiety subtypes were analyzed. Immigration enforcement fear was related to increased somatic and separation anxiety in both first- and second-generation Latinx adolescents. Perceived discrimination partially mediated the association between immigration enforcement fear and separation and somatic anxiety; data collection site did not moderate these effects. Immigration policies and rhetoric have psychological consequences. Although the adolescents in our study face multiple stressors, immigration enforcement fear may heighten their perception of discrimination, in turn, likely elevating their physiological and family separation anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are recognized as a prevalent form of substance use among adults in the United States. The rise in e-cigarette use has motivated research to identify subgroups of the population that may be particularly vulnerable to e-cigarette use and its associated harm. Individuals with elevated psychological vulnerability are one such group more at risk for being a lifetime or current e-cigarette user. Yet, little is known about how factors of psychological vulnerability relate to perceptions of e-cigarette use within the context of e-cigarette quit attempts. The current study evaluated the differential relations of anxiety sensitivity (AS), a core affective vulnerability factor, on several relevant e-cigarette processes across those with and without a previous attempt to quit using e-cigarettes.Methods: Our sample consisted of 547 current e-cigarette users (51% female, Mage  = 35.38 years, SD = 10.1).Results: Results indicated that AS significantly related to greater perceived risks, benefits, and positive outcome expectancies of e-cigarette use among current e-cigarette users who reported at least one attempt to quit e-cigarettes but was unrelated among those who had never attempted to quit.Discussion and Conclusions: Findings identify e-cigarette users who fail to quit as a potential vulnerable subgroup of users who experience more strongly held perceptions about e-cigarettes because of increased AS.Scientific Significance: This work provides initial evidence for a conceptual model in which levels of AS and e-cigarette processes are strengthened by and differ across e-cigarette quit attempt history. (Am J Addict 2019;28:390-397). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has risen dramatically in the United States. Research on combustible cigarette use has indicated that mental health symptoms and disorders are among the most important factors related to the maintenance and relapse of use. There is emerging research that suggests mental health symptoms, such as anxiety and negative affect, are overrepresented among e-cigarette users and that these factors are related to more frequent use of e-cigarettes. Yet, little is known about individual difference factors that may be associated with some of the most common mental health symptoms among e-cigarette users. Objective: Clinically significant fatigue may be one individual difference factor related to greater anxiety and distress and dysregulated emotional states more generally among e-cigarette users. Unfortunately, past work has yet to explore this relation. Method: Thus, the current study sought to evaluate clinically significant fatigue severity and its relation to negative affect, anxious arousal, and emotion dysregulation among 525 adult e-cigarette smokers (50.9% female, Mage = 35.25 years, SD = 10.10). Results: Results indicated that severe fatigue was significantly related to negative affect (p < 0.001), anxious arousal (p < 0.001), and emotion dysregulation (p < 0.001); effects that were evident after adjusting for a range of other factors (e.g. combustible cigarette use). Conclusions: These novel empirical results highlight the severity of fatigue as a potentially important construct in efforts to better understand common mental health problems among e-cigarette users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) suffer disproportionately from a variety of mood disorders relative to the general population, yet, there is little understanding of the underlying nature behind this. The present study explored the indirect effect of perceived distress tolerance in relation between negative affectivity and anxiety/depressive symptoms and disorders among PLHIV. Participants included 97 PLHIV (60.8% male; 66% Minority; Mage = 48.5 years, SE = 7.7). Results revealed indirect effects of negative affectivity via perceived distress tolerance in relation to social anxiety, depression symptoms, as well as the existence of any anxiety disorder; findings were evident after controlling for covariates. Perceived distress tolerance may serve as a construct to aid understanding in the relation between negative affectivity and the expression of anxiety/depressive symptoms and disorders among PLHIV. Future work may consider addressing distress tolerance in efforts to offset the severity of the expression of anxiety/depressive symptoms among PLHIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Recent work has highlighted the link between acculturative stress and depression/anxiety symptoms among Hispanic young adults, but the nature of these relations is not well understood. The present study aimed to clarify the relation between acculturative stress and depression/anxiety symptoms by examining anxiety sensitivity, globally and via subfactors, as an explanatory variable.Method: A cross-sectional sample of 788 Hispanic college students (80.8% female; Mage = 20.83 years, SD = 1.93) was recruited from a southwestern public university and completed an online self-report assessment battery.Results: Acculturative stress exerted an indirect effect, via the global construct of anxiety sensitivity, on depression symptoms, suicidality, anxious arousal, and social anxiety symptoms. Follow-up simultaneous analytic models demonstrated indirect effects via the anxiety sensitivity subfactors that were pathognomonic with each of the specific affective outcomes.Conclusions: These findings suggest the utility of assessing and targeting anxiety sensitivity in the treatment of acculturative stress-related depression/anxiety problems among Hispanic college students. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although recent work has highlighted the relation of acculturative stress with depression and anxiety symptoms specifically among Latino/a university students, the potential mechanisms underlying these associations remain relatively unknown. The present study aims to examine difficulties in emotion regulation as an explanatory factor in the relation of acculturative stress with symptoms of depression, suicidally, social anxiety, and anxious arousal. A sample of 448 Latino/a college students (A/age = 20.67 years. SD = 1.96; 78.3% female) were recruited from a southwestern public university through an online, self-report survey. Indirect effects of acculturative stress via difficulties in emotion regulation on all outcomes were observed among males and females. Follow-up analyses showed the indirect effect on all dependent variables among Latino men occurred exclusively through lack of access to emotion regulation strategies, whereas the indirect effects among Latina women occurred through a different subfactor of difficulties in emotion regulation for each dependent variable. These findings suggest lhe potential clinical utility of assessing and targeting acculturative stress and difficulties in emotion regulation in the treatment of depression and anxiety problems among Latino/a college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • There is high risk for transmission of HIV for men who have sex with men. • Increased risk of infection linked to discrimination and high risk behaviors. • Discrimination related to sexual orientation is associated with increased anxiety. Abstract Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk for contraction and transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Increased risk of infection has been linked to high risk behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use, as well as engaging in unsafe sexual behaviors. Experiences of discrimination related to sexual orientation often experienced in this population predict risky behavior outcomes, but little research has examined the mechanisms implicated in this model. The current study examined the effect of anxiety and depressive symptoms in the relationship between discrimination related to sexual orientation and high-risk behaviors of alcohol use, drug use, using sex to cope with negative emotions, frequency of sex without a condom, and frequency of sex with an HIV+ or unknown status partner. Three hundred and eighty-nine MSM were recruited to participate in a survey based study. Results indicated anxiety was maintained a significant indirect effect between discrimination related to sexual orientation and coping behaviors (using sex to cope, alcohol, substance use), but showed no significant indirect associations with risky sexual behavior. Overall, the current study provides novel empirical evidence that discrimination related to sexual orientation is associated with increased anxiety, which in turn, is associated with certain HIV risk behaviors. Importantly, it is possible that alcohol use, drug use, and using sex to cope with negative emotions may be precursors to more risky sexual behavior, such as engaging in anal sex without a condom or having sex with an HIV+ or unknown status partner. Clinically, reducing symptoms of anxiety in the context of discrimination related to sexual orientation may help reduce HIV risk behavior among MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Evidence for the interaction of mindful attention, experiential avoidance, and emotional symptomology. • Latinos with lower levels of mindfulness relates to greater anxiety symptoms, and greater depressive symptoms. • Intervention efforts targeting high experiential avoidance and low mindful attention are needed among this population. Abstract The present study examined the moderating role of mindful attention in the relation between experiential avoidance and anxious arousal, social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and the number of mood and anxiety disorders among a sample of Latinos seeking health services at a primary care facility. Participants included 326 adult Latinos (M age = 39.79 years, SD = 11.27; 88.9% female; 98.2% used Spanish as their first language). Results provided empirical evidence of an interaction between mindful attention and experiential avoidance for anxious arousal, social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and the number of mood and anxiety disorders in the studied sample. Specifically, among Latinos with lower (vs higher) levels of mindfulness, greater experiential avoidance was related to greater anxiety/depressive symptoms and number of mood and anxiety disorders. Together, these data provide novel empirical evidence of the clinically relevant interplay between mindful attention and experiential avoidance regarding a relatively wide array of negative emotional symptoms and disorders among Latino primary care patients. Limitations of the study include a largely female sample and cross-sectional data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although pain severity is often related to poorer mental health and is one of the most common presenting complaints in community health care settings, there is little understanding of the pain experience in relation to anxiety/depressive symptoms and disorders among Latino populations in medical contexts. Method To address this gap, the current study explored an interactive model of pain severity and emotion dysregulation in relation to anxiety/depressive symptoms and psychopathology among 274 Latinos who attended a community-based primary health care clinic [86.9% female; M age =39.3 (SD = 11.2); 96.0% indicated Spanish as their first language]. Results Results indicated a statistically significant interaction between pain severity and emotion dysregulation for suicidal symptoms, social anxiety symptoms and number of mood/anxiety disorders, such that more severe pain and greater levels of emotion dysregulation related to poorer mental health. Both pain severity and emotion dysregulation were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, but only pain severity was a significant predictor of anxious arousal symptoms. Conclusions These novel findings suggest a clinically significant interplay between pain severity and emotion dysregulation among Latinos in. The results are discussed in relation to the need for new screening and intervention tactics that address interrelations between pain severity and emotional dysregulation among Latinos seeking treatment in community health-care-based settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-cigarette use is prevalent, and rates of use continue to increase. Although e-cigarettes are often used to help combustible users quit or reduce smoking, some use e-cigarettes in the absence of combustible cigarettes, increasing risk for smoking combustible cigarettes. Yet, little research has examined individual vulnerability factors implicated in transitioning from exclusive e-cigarettes use to dual use of combustible cigarettes. Social anxiety may be one such factor given it is related to a variety of negative smoking-related outcomes. Thus, the current study tested whether social anxiety was related to using e-cigarettes before smoking combustibles among 226 current undergraduate dual users (use both e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes). Most dual users reported initiating with e-cigarettes (67%). Those who initiated with e-cigarettes reported statistically significantly greater negative reinforcement (d = 0.59) and weight control expectancies (d = 0.37) and greater social anxiety (d = 0.37) than those who initiated with combustibles. Social anxiety was indirectly related to e-cigarette initiation via negative and weight control expectancies. Findings add to a growing literature that dual users initiated with e-cigarettes and extend understanding of this phenomenon by identifying that socially anxious persons may be especially vulnerable to doing so, at least partially due to expectations regarding e-cigarette's ability to manage negative affect and/or weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]