Sarah F. Lewis

Taxometric and factor analytic models of anxiety sensitivity: Integrating approaches to latent structural research.

This study represents an effort to better understand the latent structure of anxiety sensitivity (AS), as indexed by the 16-item Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI; S. Reiss, R. A. Peterson, M. Gursky, & R. J. McNally, 1986), by using taxometric and factor-analytic approaches in an integrative manner. Taxometric analyses indicated that AS has a taxonic latent class structure (i.e., a dichotomous latent class structure) in a large sample of North American adults (N=2,515). As predicted, confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a multidimensional 3-factor model of AS provided a good fit for the AS complement class (normative or low-risk form) but not the AS taxon class (high-risk form). Exploratory factor analytic results suggested that the AS taxon may demonstrate a unique, unidimensional factor solution, though there are alternative indications that it may be characterized by a 2-factor solution. Findings suggest that the latent structural nature of AS can be conceptualized as a taxonic latent class structure composed of 2 types or forms of AS, each of these forms characterized by its own unique latent continuity and dimensional structure.

Alcohol Use Motives among Traumatic Event-Exposed, Treatment-Seeking Adolescents: Associations with Posttraumatic Stress

The current study evaluated the linkage between posttraumatic stress symptoms and alcohol use motives among 49 traumatic event-exposed adolescents (M(age)=16.39 years). It was hypothesized that posttraumatic stress symptom levels would be positively associated with coping-related drinking motives specifically (cf., social, enhancement, or conformity motives) and that coping-related drinking motives would evidence associations with the hyperarousal and reexperiencing posttraumatic stress symptom types. Findings were consistent with hypotheses, suggesting traumatic event-exposed adolescents may be using alcohol to manage posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Anxiety Sensitivity Taxonicity: a Concurrent Test of Cognitive Vulnerability for Post‐Traumatic Stress Symptomatology Among Young Adults

This study evaluated the anxiety sensitivity taxon using the 16‐item Anxiety Sensitivity Index in relation to 2 criteria relevant to post‐traumatic stress disorder; post‐traumatic stress disorder symptom severity as indexed by the Post‐Traumatic Diagnostic Scale, and post‐traumatic cognitions as indexed by the Post‐Traumatic Cognitions Inventory. Taxometric analyses of data collected from 331 young adults indicated that the latent structure of anxiety sensitivity was taxonic with an estimated base‐rate range of 11–12%. As predicted, an 8‐item Anxiety Sensitivity Index Taxon Scale accounted for significant variance above and beyond that accounted for by negative affectivity and the full‐scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index total score in terms of both criteria. Moreover, after accounting for variance explained by the full‐scale Anxiety Sensitivity Index total score and negative affectivity, the sum score for the 8 Anxiety Sensitivity Index items not included in the Anxiety Sensitivity Index Taxon Scale was associated with significant variance in these same dependent measures, but the relation was in the opposite direction to that predicted by theory. These findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and clinical implications for the study of anxiety sensitivity and post‐traumatic stress disorder vulnerability.

Marijuana use among traumatic event-exposed adolescents: Posttraumatic stress symptom frequency predicts coping motivations for use

Contemporary comorbidity theory postulates that people suffering from posttraumatic stress symptoms may use substances to cope with negative affect generally and posttraumatic stress symptoms specifically. The present study involves the examination of the unique relation between past two-week posttraumatic stress symptom frequency and motives for marijuana use after accounting for general levels of negative affectivity as well as variability associated with gender. Participants were 61 marijuana-using adolescents (M(age)=15.81) who reported experiencing lifetime exposure to at least one traumatic event. Consistent with predictions, past two-week posttraumatic stress symptoms significantly predicted coping motives for marijuana use and were not associated with social, enhancement, or conformity motives for use. These findings are consistent with theoretical work suggesting people suffering from posttraumatic stress use substances to regulate symptoms.

Indirect effects of smoking motives on adolescent anger dysregulation and smoking.

Cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of disease and death in the United States, and smoking typically begins in adolescence. It is therefore important to understand factors that relate to increased risk for cigarette smoking during this stage of development. Adolescence is a period when emotion regulatory capacities are still emerging and a common affective state to be regulated is anger, which adult research has linked to nicotine use. Drawing from work suggesting that negative affect reduction motives are one of the most common reasons for cigarette smoking, the current study was designed to evaluate the indirect effects of negative affect reduction motives on the relation between anger dysregulation and nicotine use within a sample of 119 treatment-seeking adolescents enrolled in group-based residential therapy. Results were generally consistent with hypotheses, suggesting significant indirect effects of negative affect reduction smoking motives on the relation between anger dysregulation and smoking outcomes. Findings are discussed in terms of negative affect reduction motives for cigarette use in the context of anger regulation among youths.

Distress tolerance predicts coping motives for marijuana use among treatment seeking young adults.

Given increasing marijuana use and abuse among young adults in the United States and the associated physical and mental health consequences, it is important to improve our understanding of factors that may contribute to problematic marijuana use. A convergence of theory and research underscores the relevance of particular marijuana use motives generally, and coping-related motives specifically, in enhancing risk for marijuana use problems. Distress tolerance is a transdiagnostic emotion vulnerability factor that may relate to coping-related motives for marijuana use. The current study was designed to further explore this relationship within a treatment-seeking sample of young adults (Mage=24.40; SD=2.06 years). Results were consistent with hypotheses, suggesting distress tolerance is related to coping motives for marijuana use within this treatment-seeking sample, even after accounting for a number of theoretically relevant covariates. Theoretical and applied implications of distress tolerance as it relates to coping motives for marijuana use as treatment targets are discussed.

Posttraumatic stress severity is associated with coping motives for alcohol use among in-patient and community recruited adolescents

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives: A growing body of work suggests individuals with more severe post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are at higher risk for developing problematic alcohol use outcomes. Extending work from the adult literature, the present study was the first to examine the extent to which PTSS is related to drinking motives for alcohol use in both clinical and non-clinical samples of adolescents. Design: Hierarchical regression analyses were used to predict coping motives for alcohol use from PTSS, above and beyond demographic variables, alcohol use frequency, and other alcohol use motives. Methods: Trauma-exposed adolescents before entering treatment (Sample 1 n = 41) and recruited from the local community (Sample 2 n = 55) self-reported on PTSS and alcohol use motives. Results: PTSS positively predicted coping motives for alcohol use after controlling for age, gender, and alcohol use frequency. Conclusions: The current study highlights the need to consider both PTSS severity, as well as underlying cognitive mechanisms (e.g., motives), to better understand the etiology of problematic alcohol use among trauma-exposed youth. Future work focused on clarifying the trajectory of alcohol use motives and problems as a function of PTSS is needed.

Past-Month Marijuana Use Is Associated with Self-Reported Violence Among Trauma-Exposed Adolescents

ABSTRACT Marijuana use and trauma have independently been associated with an increased risk for violence among adolescents; however, research has not examined potential associations between marijuana use and violence among trauma-exposed adolescents. Therefore, we examined data from two groups of adolescents: (a) those reporting exposure to a criterion A-defined traumatic event (N = 40; Mage = 15.70, SD = 0.96) and (b) those reporting no history of trauma exposure (N = 25; Mage = 16.08, SD = .99). We hypothesized that past-month marijuana use would relate to elevated self-reported violence among trauma-exposed adolescents. Two hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to evaluate the hypotheses of the current study. Results from regression models supported this hypothesis. Findings suggest the importance of understanding the role of traumatic-event exposure as it relates to marijuana use and violence among adolescents.