A Comparison of Anxiety Sensitivity, Experiential Avoidance, and Meta-Worry in Individuals With and Without Skin Problems

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Skin disorders are not limited to physical symptoms and are frequently associated with significant psychological difficulties such as anxiety, chronic worry, and emotional avoidance, all of which may negatively affect quality of life and social functioning. The present study aimed to compare anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and meta-worry among individuals with severe skin problems, mild skin problems, and healthy individuals.

Methodology: This study employed a causal-comparative design. The statistical population included individuals referred to dermatology clinics in Shiraz in 2021. The sample consisted of 80 participants selected through convenience sampling and divided into three groups: individuals with severe skin problems (n=20), individuals with mild skin problems (n=20), and healthy individuals (n=40). Data were collected using the Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (EAQ), the Revised Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASIR), and the Meta-Worry Questionnaire (MWQ). Data analysis was conducted using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and Scheffé post hoc tests in SPSS-20.

Findings: The results of multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences among the three groups in anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and meta-worry (P<0.001). Univariate analyses further showed that individuals with skin disorders, particularly those with severe conditions, reported significantly higher levels of anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and meta-worry compared to healthy individuals. In addition, individuals with severe skin disorders demonstrated significantly higher levels of meta-worry and experiential avoidance than those with mild skin disorders, whereas the difference in anxiety sensitivity between the two clinical groups was not statistically significant. The largest effect size was observed for experiential avoidance.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that skin disorders are significantly associated with maladaptive cognitive-emotional patterns, and affected individuals experience elevated levels of anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and meta-worry. These results highlight the importance of integrating psychological interventions alongside medical treatments and emphasize the potential value of anxiety reduction, emotional acceptance, and metacognitive-based interventions for patients with skin disorders.