Effects of anxiety sensitivity on alcohol problems: evaluating chained mediation through generalized anxiety, depression and drinking motives. (23rd October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Allan, Nicholas P.; Albanese, Brian J.; Norr, Aaron M.; Zvolensky, Michael J.; Schmidt, Norman B.
• Is Part Of: Addiction. Volume 110:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 260
• Page End: 268
• Publication Date: 2014-10-23
• Subjects: Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Drug addiction -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/add.12739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2140

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="add12739-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="add12739-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aims</title> <p id="add12739-para-0001">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).</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p id="add12739-para-0002">Cross‐sectional single‐ and chained‐mediation models were tested.</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p id="add12739-para-0003">Self‐report measures were completed in clinics at Florida State University and the University of Vermont, USA.</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Participants</title> <p id="add12739-para-0004">Participants consisted of 523 adult daily cigarette smokers [mean age = 37.23, standard deviation (SD) = 13.53; 48.6% female].</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Measurements</title> <p id="add12739-para-0005">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.</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Findings</title> <p id="add12739-para-0006">Chained mediation was found from AS to alcohol problems through generalized anxiety then through drinking to cope with negative affect [B = 0.04, 90% confidence interval (CI) = 0.004, 0.10)]. Chained mediation was also found from AS to alcohol problems through depression then through drinking to cope with negative affect (B = 0.11, 90% CI = 0.05, 0.21) and, separately, through socially motivated drinking (B = 0.05, 90% CI = 0.003, 0.11).</p> </sec> <sec id="add12739-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p id="add12739-para-0007">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.</p> </sec> </abstract>