ANXIETY SENSITIVITY, STATE ANXIETY AND PERCEPTIONS OF FACIAL EMOTIONS

We investigated relationships between anxiety sensitivity and perceptions of facial emotions following relaxation and hyperventilation. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index was administered to 606 female college undergraduates and samples of high (n = 30) and low (n = 25) scorers were obtained from the top and bottom 15% of the distribution. Following exposure to randomly counterbalanced 5-minute relaxation and hyperventilation instructions, participants rated the intensity of seven basic emotions in photographs of faces using a standardized test of affect-receiving ability. High ASI scorers perceived significantly more intense fear and anger than did low ASI respondents and reported relatively larger increases in ratings of sadness and fear following hyperventilation. ASI was significantly correlated with heightened state anxiety and vigilance prior to beginning the experiment, and these affects mediated interpersonal perceptions. Results suggest that high ASI scorers may manifest a chronic state of vigilance that triggers heightened anxiety in ambiguous situations. The combination of high anxiety sensitivity and state anxiety appears to foster greater sensitivity to interpersonal stimuli.