Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the relationship between moderate-intensity exercise and coping-oriented marijuana use motives

Abstract

The present study examined the working hypothesis that moderate-intensity exercise is associated with coping-oriented marijuana use motives through its association with the fear of somatic arousal (ie, anxiety sensitivity). Using data from 146 young adult current marijuana users, we found evidence consistent with this hypothesis. Specifically, moderate-intensity exercise was associated with coping-oriented use motives, even after controlling for frequency of current marijuana use and other co-occurring marijuana use motives. This relationship became nonsignificant after entering anxiety sensitivity as an additional predictor variable, denoting a putative mediational role for this cognitive factor. These findings extend previous work and offer support for the potential utility of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for the treatment of marijuana use problems.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interest

Dr. Smits receives research support from Organon (Schering-Plough). The other authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

© American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.

Figures

Figure 1

Anxiety sensitivity as a mediator of the relation between moderate-intensity exercise and marijuana coping use motives.