The Association Between Reinforcement Sensitivity And Substance Use Is Mediated BY Individual Differences In Dispositional Affectivity In Adolescents

Abstract Background Adolescence marks the onset of substance use experimentation and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to certain negative effects of substances. Some evidence indicates reinforcement sensitivity is associated with substance use, though little is known about mechanisms underlying such association Aims in the current study were to examine, (1) associations between behavioral activation (BAS) and behavioral inhibition (BIS) system sensitivity, positive (PA) and negative affectivity (NA), and alcohol use and alcohol problems as well as tobacco, and marijuana use, and whether (2) associations are mediated by PA or NA Methods Participants were a community sample of N=125 adolescents (Mage=15.67 years; SD=.93; 52% boys) who completed self-report measures Results evinced associations, generally as expected, across variables (all ps Conclusions There are unique and shared effects of domains of reinforcement sensitivity on adolescent substance use and these vary with index of dispositional affectivity and type of substance considered.