TY - JOUR PY - 2014// TI - Effects of anxiety sensitivity on alcohol problems: evaluating chained mediation through generalized anxiety, depression, and drinking motives JO - Addiction A1 - Allan, Nicholas P. A1 - Albanese, Brian J. A1 - Norr, Aaron M. A1 - Zvolensky, Michael J. A1 - Schmidt, Norman B. SP - 260 EP - 268 VL - 110 IS - 2 N2 - 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

LA - en SN - 0965-2140 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.12739 ID - ref1 ER -