Anxiety Sensitivity and Anticipation of Anxiety among University Hostelites: The Mediating Roles of Metacognition and Coping

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and anticipatory anxiety along with the mediating role of metacognitions and coping among university hostelites of Rawalpindi/Islamabad currently enrolled in first, fourth and eighth semester. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect data from N = 250 hostel students in which n = 69 students were male and n = 181 were female. The data collected were analyzed using statistical methods, including correlation, regression, t-test, ANOVA and mediation analysis. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between all variables. Regression analysis indicated that negative beliefs, cognitive confidence, need for control, cognitive self-consciousness, problem and emotion focused coping jointly predict anticipatory anxiety for 57% of the variance (R² = .571, p<0.001). Independent sample t-test didn’t showed significant differences in anxiety sensitivity among university and private hostel students. ANOVA demonstrated no significant differences with respect to semester levels. Mediation analysis confirmed that metacognitions (positive worry beliefs, cognitive confidence, need for control and coping such as), emotion focused and avoidant focused significantly mediated the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and anticipatory anxiety. These results highlighted the crucial roles that coping strategies and metacognitive beliefs playedamong university hostelites to maintain their anxiety sensitivity thus having escalated anticipatory anxiety. In order to reduce anxiety symptoms, the study's conclusion offers suggestions for focused interventions that would improve coping mechanisms and deal with maladaptive metacognitions.