Abstract:
Comorbidity rates between mental disorders suggest a need to examine transdiagnostic
mechanisms that etiologically contribute to multiple forms of psychopathology. The Affect
Sensitivity nomological net is a proposed model of several of these mechanisms and includes a
higher-order Affect Sensitivity construct, which bifurcates into anxiety sensitivity (AS) and its
three facets, and distress intolerance (DI) (Bernstein, Zvolensky, Vujanovic, & Moos, 2009).
However, previous studies of associations between constructs within this nomological net and
various psychopathological outcomes have not demonstrated strong discriminant validity
between constructs. Thus, the goal of the current study was to empirically examine the structure
of the Affect Sensitivity nomological net using confirmatory factor analyses, as well as the
differential pattern of association of constructs within the net with various psychopathological
outcomes using multiple linear regression analyses amongst a sample of 281 undergraduate
students (Mage = 18.92, SD = 1.11; 85.8% White; 71.2% female). Results indicated that a factor
solution approximating the overall structure of the Affect Sensitivity nomological net
demonstrated acceptable model fit. Results also indicated that Affect Sensitivity, AS, and DI
demonstrate differential patterns of association with psychopathological outcomes. Overall,
results generally support the construct validity of the Affect Sensitivity nomological net and the conceptualization of AS and DI as related, yet distinct, constructs. Implications, limitations, and
directions for future research are discussed.
