Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2011

Thesis Director

Amy Brausch

Thesis Committee Member

Ronan Bernas

Thesis Committee Member

Russell Gruber

Abstract

Uncued panic attacks are prevalent in the college student population. In the current study, anxiety sensitivity, perceived stress, and social support were explored as predictors of uncued panic frequency. Additionally, family support and close friend support were compared. A sample of 117 college students from Eastern Illinois University were assessed using an online survey that included a one-item uncued panic frequency measure, the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale-College Version (College CASSS). Results indicated that all three predictors were significant when tested independently. When placed in a hierarchical regression, anxiety sensitivity was significant, perceived stress added a significant contribution, but social support did not add significant predictive value. Close friend support was found to be more predictive of uncued panic than family support, which was not found to be significant. Implications for psychotherapy suggest that clinicians can implement interventions that decrease anxiety sensitivity and perceived stress, while increasing social support especially focusing on close friend support.

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