The Prediction of Health Anxiety based on Experiential Avoidance and Anxiety Sensitivity among non-clinical Population

Hypochondriasis or health anxiety disorder is characterized by abundant anxiety and fear about having a serious illness. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance with health anxiety. The population included all students of Malayer University, from whom 388 students (138 males and 250 females) were selected through convenient sampling method. Data were gathered using Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3), acceptance and action questionnaire, and Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis (stepwise method). Pearson correlation analysis results showed that there is a significant positive relationship between dimensions of anxiety Sensitivity and experiential avoidance with health anxiety. Moreover, Multiple regression analysis results revealed that anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance were able to predict health anxiety, respectively.These variables can predict 24 percentages of the total variance of health anxiety. Based on these findings, anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance are capable to predict health anxiety. It could be concluded that reducing anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance could be one of the main mechanism for reducing the health anxiety.