Citation

Allan NP, Albanese BJ, Norr AM, Zvolensky MJ, Schmidt NB. Addiction 2014; 110(2): 260-268.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahasssee, FL 32306-4301, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/add.12739

PMID

25220033

Abstract

AIMS: To test whether the relations between anxiety sensitivity (AS), a transdiagnostic risk factor, and alcohol problems are explained by chained mediation models, from AS through anxiety or depressive symptoms then drinking motives in an at-risk sample. It was hypothesized that AS would influence alcohol problems through generalized anxiety or depression symptoms and then through negatively-reinforced drinking motives (i.e., drinking to cope with negative affect and drinking to conform).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional single- and chained-mediation models were tested. SETTING: Self-report measures were completed in clinics at Florida State University and the University of Vermont, USA. PARTICIPANTS: Participants consisted of 523 adult daily cigarette smokers (M age = 37.23, SD = 13.53; 48.6% female). MEASUREMENTS: As part of a larger battery of self-report measures, participants completed self-report measures of AS, generalized anxiety, depression, drinking motives, and alcohol problems.

FINDINGS: Chained mediation was found from AS to alcohol problems through generalized anxiety then through drinking to cope with negative affect (B =.04, 90% confidence interval [CI;.004,.10]). Chained mediation was also found from AS to alcohol problems through depression then through drinking to cope with negative affect (B =.11, 90% CI [.05,.21]) and, separately, through socially motivated drinking (B =.05, 90% CI [.003,.11]).

CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety sensitivity and alcohol problems are indirectly related through several intervening variables, such as through generalized anxiety or depression and then through drinking to cope with negative affect.

Language: en