Anxiety sensitivity, discrimination, and posttraumatic stress among Black, Hispanic, and Native American compared to White individuals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the impact of experiences of discrimination and anxiety sensitivity (AS) on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in Black, Hispanic, and Native American individuals versus White individuals. METHOD: This study utilized data from a large sample of racially and ethnically diverse adults enrolled in a remotely conducted clinical trial. Analyses of variance and Tukey corrected post hoc comparisons were run to examine racial/ethnic group differences in experiences of discrimination and AS. A hierarchical linear regression was conducted to examine the effects of racial/ethnic group, discrimination, and AS on PTSD symptoms. RESULTS: Seven hundred thirty-eight (66.7% female; Mage = 38.3) participants with diverse representation of Black (n = 168), American Indian (n = 203), Hispanic (n = 181), and White (n = 186) were included in the analyses. Results indicated statistically significant differences in experiences of discrimination but not AS across racial/ethnic groups. As expected, all non-White groups endorsed higher levels of discrimination than White participants. AS and discrimination predicted greater PTSD symptoms, but there was no statistically significant interaction between AS and discrimination. However, there was a statistically significant interaction of Black racial group and AS, such that AS had a larger effect on PTSD symptoms among Black individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the impact of discrimination and AS on PTSD symptoms across racial/ethnic groups. Black individuals may be particularly susceptible to negative outcomes associated with AS. Targeting AS among Black individuals experiencing discrimination may help improve psychological functioning and related clinical outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).