Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Kendall Bub and I am a first year student originally from Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. I am pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences: Clinical Professions with a minor in Spanish on the Pre-medical track. After completing my undergraduate degree, I plan to attend medical school pursuing an M.D. My research interests include eating disorders, anxiety disorders, mental health in marginalized populations, and women's health.

The Correlation Between Anxiety Sensitivity and Eating Disorder Symptoms

Abstract

It is estimated that 31.3% of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, making it the most common mental health disorder in the country. With the pervasiveness of anxiety in the U.S. population many have concluded that the comorbidity of anxiety disorders and eating disorders is extremely common. This study seeks to determine the correlation between anxiety symptoms and eating disorder symptoms via an online self-report psychological study using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) and the Eating Disorder Examination – Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS). While many studies have been performed on the correlation between anxiety disorders and eating disorders, there is very little research on how the three different factors of ASI, physical, cognitive, and social, correlate separately to eating disorder symptoms. Our analysis found that the EDEQS total score is significantly and positively related to cognitive and social ASI, but not significantly related to physical ASI. Additionally, all three components of ASI are significantly related to each other.  

Keywords: anxiety, eating disorders, psychology