The association between reinforcement sensitivity and substance use is mediated by individual differences in dispositional affectivity in adolescents

Adolescence marks the onset of substance use experimentation and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to certain negative effects substances. Some evidence indicates reinforcement sensitivity is associated with use, though little known about mechanisms underlying such association. in current study were examine, (1) associations between behavioral activation (BAS) inhibition (BIS) system sensitivity, positive (PA) affectivity (NA), alcohol problems as well tobacco, marijuana whether (2) mediated by PA or NA. Participants a community sample N = 125 (Mage 15.67 years; SD 0.93; 52% boys) who completed self-report measures. evinced associations, generally expected, across variables (all ps < 0.05). In mediation analyses, an association emerged BIS NA (95%CIs [0.034; 0.390]); greater was use. These findings replicated problems. An also BAS [?0.296; ?0.027]); lower Finally, tobacco through [0.023; 0.325]) [0.004; 0.116]), linked greater, but [?0.395; ?0.049]), again There unique shared domains on adolescent these vary index dispositional type considered.