Metacognitive beliefs about biased thinking condition the role of anxiety sensitivity in the somatic symptom–health anxiety pathway (opens in new tab)

BackgroundSomatic symptoms are closely linked to health anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity is often described as a trait-like amplifier of responses to bodily sensations. Metacognitive beliefs operate at a higher-order level and may influence the conditions under which this amplification is observed.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was completed by 564 university students, who reported on somatic symptom burden (PHQ-15), anxiety sensitivity focused on physical concerns (ASI-3 Physical), metacogn...