title: Main and interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and physical distress intolerance with regard to PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed smokers.
abstract: The present study examined the roles of anxiety sensitivity (AS; the tendency to misinterpret physical internal sensations of harmful) and distress tolerance (the capacity to tolerate aversive stimuli) in terms of the expression of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among a sample of trauma-exposed, treatment-seeking tobacco smokers (n = 137; Mage = 37.7 years, 48.2% female). It was hypothesized that higher AS and lower physical distress tolerance would interact to predict greater PTSD avoidance and hyperarousal symptoms. Results were partially consistent with this prediction. Specifically, there was a significant interactive effect of AS by physical distress tolerance in terms of PTSD hyperarousal symptom cluster severity. The form of the interaction was in the expected direction, with the highest levels of PTSD hyperarousal symptoms reported among smokers with higher levels of AS and a lower capacity to tolerate physical distress. Findings underscore the importance of considering AS and physical distress tolerance in terms of better understanding mechanisms underlying the expression of PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed smokers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Houston , Houston , Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Samantha G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: Anka A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vujanovic
authors.forename: Julianna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: Norman B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zvolensky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001143:Arousal; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: PTSD; comorbidity; smoking; stress; tobacco; trauma