The Relationships Between Adolescent Anxiety Sensitivity, Parent Emotional Availability, and Gender in the Context of Adolescent Anxiety

Abstract Anxiety disorders often onset in adolescence and continue into adulthood. Multiple factors contribute to anxiety disorder development, such as parent emotional availability (EA) and adolescent anxiety sensitivity (AS). Previous research determined attachment is a similar construct to EA, and attachment is related to anxiety disorders. Moreover, EA is a more specific construct than attachment that can be targeted in therapy. It has been determined that adolescent attachment to parental figures contributes to anxiety, with AS mediating this relationship. The present research sought to determine if AS is one mechanism underlying the relationship between parent EA and adolescent anxiety, while exploring the moderating roles of parent and adolescent gender. In a Midwestern sample (13–19 years old), this study examined adolescent AS as a mediator of the relationship between perceived parent EA and adolescent anxiety, and gender as a potential moderator. Self-report data were collected from adolescents via Qualtrics. The findings supported the mechanism of adolescent AS as a mediator between perceived parent EA and adolescent anxiety. As AS emerges during adolescence, it is a pertinent treatment target for youth anxiety. Furthermore, this study underscores the significance of parent and adolescent gender and parental EA as treatment targets for adolescent anxiety. While targeting adolescent AS and enhancing parental EA can be beneficial for both male and female adolescents, focusing on parental EA may offer greater benefits for male adolescents. In sum, these findings can increase the efficacy of current parenting programs and further increase treatment outcomes for youth and families.