Background <p>Anxiety sensitivity refers to the fear of anxiety-related sensations arising from beliefs that these sensations have harmful physical, cognitive, or social consequences. In disaster response training, such sensitivity may critically impair performance. This study examined anxiety sensitivity profiles among associate degree students enrolled in disaster- and emergency-related programs, focusing on gender- and grade-based differences across physical, cognitive, and social dimensions.</p> Methods <p>Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 301 students (178 females, 123 males; Mage = 20) via the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3). The study was conducted following institutional ethical approval (GO2025/1645) with informed consent. The ASI-3 demonstrated high internal consistency in the present sample (Cronbach's α = 0.88). Analyses included Welch's t-test, ANOVA, and item-level χ² tests.</p> Results <p>Total anxiety sensitivity scores did not differ significantly by gender (t = − 1.85, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.066, d = 0.21) or grade level (F = 3.76, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.054). However, female students exhibited significantly higher anxiety on physical and social items, including fear of increased heartbeat (χ² = 28.4, <i>p</i> &lt; .001, φ = 0.31), chest pain, sweating, and fear of fainting in public.</p> Conclusions <p>These findings suggest the presence of gender-linked vulnerability patterns in specific anxiety domains, supporting the integration of targeted cognitive-behavioral and stress-regulation modules within disaster training curricula. However, given the cross-sectional design and convenience sampling, such recommendations warrant longitudinal validation to confirm modifiability and educational impact.</p>