Relationship between Anxiety Sensitivity subscales and social fears

This study examined the relationship between social fears and the three subscales of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) in a non‐clinical, student sample. In particular, the unique variance that the three ASI factors accounted for in social scrutiny fears, social interaction fears, and fear during a social challenge was investigated. Anxiety Sensitivity–Social Concern (AS‐Social Concern) was hypothesised to account for a significant proportion of the variance in social fears compared to the other two subscales. Seventy one university students completed a series of psychological‐based questionnaires and participated in a social challenge (videotaped speech task). Contrary to prediction, AS‐Social Concern did not account for a unique proportion of the variance in social fears, but AS‐Physical Concern and AS‐Mental Concern did account for unique variance in social fears. Results are interpreted in light of recent findings on the structure of ASI.