Panic reactivity to voluntary hyperventilation challenge predicts distress tolerance to bodily sensations among daily cigarette smokers.
The present investigation examined the extent to which panic reactivity to bodily sensations is related to distress tolerance (DT) among daily smokers. It was hypothesized that panic reactivity to an initial voluntary hyperventilation (i.e., whether participants met criteria for a DSM-IV panic attack; PA) would predict the relative degree of task persistence on a second hyperventilation trial (DT) above and beyond the variance accounted for by anxiety sensitivity (AS), negative affectivity (NA), cigarette smoking rate, and self-reported discomfort intolerance (DI). Participants were 95 daily smokers (58% women; M-sub(age) = 29.0, SD = 12.2) who completed a battery of questionnaires and two voluntary hyperventilation procedures. Results indicated PA status significantly predicted DT, above and beyond the theoretically relevant covariates of AS, NA, cigarettes per day, and DI ( p < .05). Such a result is consistent with theoretical models and empirical findings on emotional reactivity that suggest panic responsivity to internal cues may represent a key explanatory construct in terms of level of DT to interoceptive stimuli.
Marshall
Erin C
EC
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
Zvolensky
Michael J
MJ
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
Vujanovic
Anka A
AA
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
Gregor
Kristin
K
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
Gibson
Laura E
LE
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
Leyro
Teresa M
TM
Department of Psychology, The University of Vermont.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000523:psychology*; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010200:Panic; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012119:Respiration; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult