title: Effects of anxiety sensitivity on alcohol problems: evaluating chained mediation through generalized anxiety, depression and drinking motives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional single- and chained-mediation models were tested.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report measures were completed in clinics at Florida State University and the University of Vermont, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants consisted of 523 adult daily cigarette smokers [mean age = 37.23, standard deviation (SD) = 13.53; 48.6% female].
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  RESULTS
  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).
  
  
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahasssee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: Aaron M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Norr
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Zvolensky
authors.forename: Norman B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D057566:Self Report; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; anxiety sensitivity; chained mediation; depression; drinking motives; generalized anxiety