The General and Specific vulnerability factors of anxiety disorders: Evaluation of a structural model

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders that impose a lot of suffering for patients and costs for communities. Thus, identifying the vulnerability factors of these disorders is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluation of General and Specific vulnerability factors of anxiety disorders within the framework of a structural model.

420 students from universities in Tehran were selected by convenience sampling and responses to NEO Five-Factor Inventory, Anxiety Control Questionnaire-revised, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, disgust sensitivity scale, Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Generalized anxiety disorders questionnaire-IV, Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire and fear survey schedule-II. Data analysis was performed using path analysis.

Based on the findings of this study, neuroticism can be described as a biological vulnerability (β = 0.17, 0.10, 0.05, 0.10 ) and the lack of perceived control as General psychological vulnerability (β = 0.15, 0.10, 0.04, 0.16 ) factor. for anxiety disorders. On the other hand, extraversion can be considered as a biological vulnerability to social anxiety disorder (β = - 0.23). As well as the results of this study led to the identification of specific vulnerability factor of each of the anxiety disorders.

Based on the findings of this study can be considered the Triple Vulnerability Model suitable framework to explain the etiology of anxiety disorders.