Cognitive Fusion as a Mediator Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Avoidant Coping in Young Women

Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of cognitive fusion in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and avoidant coping in young women. Methods and Materials: A total of 600 young women from China participated in this descriptive correlational study. The participants completed validated self-report measures for anxiety sensitivity, cognitive fusion, and avoidant coping. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between the variables. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the hypothesized mediation model, with model fit assessed using indices such as Chi-square, CFI, and RMSEA. Findings: Pearson correlation results revealed significant positive associations between anxiety sensitivity, cognitive fusion, and avoidant coping (p < .001). Structural equation modeling confirmed that cognitive fusion partially mediated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and avoidant coping. Direct paths from anxiety sensitivity to avoidant coping and from cognitive fusion to avoidant coping were both significant, with an indirect effect through cognitive fusion contributing significantly to the total effect (β = 0.22, p < .001). The model fit indices indicated good model fit (χ²/df = 1.99, RMSEA = 0.041, CFI = 0.97). Conclusion: The findings suggest that cognitive fusion plays a significant role in explaining how anxiety sensitivity contributes to avoidant coping in young women. These results highlight the importance of addressing cognitive fusion in interventions targeting maladaptive coping strategies, particularly in populations vulnerable to anxiety-related distress.