Abstract

Young adulthood is a developmental period marked by increased alcohol use, posing risks for long-term negative consequences, such as underemployment and alcohol use disorder. Tension reduction theory suggests that those high in anxiety sensitivity (AS) may be at risk for misusing alcohol for its anxiolytic effects. Mixed evidence, however, suggests that the AS-alcohol misuse association is not straightforward. While high-AS individuals may drink to cope with negative affect, they may also avoid alcohol because its effects mimic anxious sensations. Cognitive theories and the theory of planned behaviour highlight how motivation and social perceptions may impact how AS-risk for problematic alcohol use unfolds. The present dissertation examined perceived stress, drinking motives, and injunctive norms (i.e., perceived approval of risky drinking) as mechanisms and individual-level risk factors linking AS to alcohol use and problems among young adults. Study 1 used a cross-sectional design (N=143) to test perceived stress and drinking motives as mediators of the AS–alcohol outcome association. A mediation analysis revealed that AS positively predicted alcohol problems, via coping motives, and positively predicted alcohol use, via perceived stress and enhancement/sociability motives. Study 2 utilized a longitudinal person-centered analysis (N=164) to identify AS-risk for unique patterns of injunctive norms (by referent groups) and subsequent alcohol outcomes. Latent profile analyses revealed that a higher level of AS was associated with membership in profiles characterized by high perceived approval of risky drinking. Moreover, the profile characterized by high student/neutral friends/low parent approval was associated with the least amount of alcohol misuse and problems (protective), the profile characterized by approval by all referents was associated with some risk, and the profile characterized by high students/friends and neutral parents was associated with the most risk. Study 3 employed a prospective design (N=273) to examine the link between the social concerns facet of AS (AS-SC) and alcohol outcomes, moderated by injunctive norms, and mediated by drinking to cope. Latent growth curve models revealed that increases in coping motives were associated with increases in alcohol use and problems. Coping-related injunctive norms from friends and typical students also predicted higher alcohol outcomes. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.