ANXIETY SENSITIVITY AND SELF-REPORTED ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION RATES IN UNIVERSITY WOMEN

A growing literature suggests a significant relationship between ''anx iety sensitivity'' (AS; fear of anxiety symptoms) and alcohol use/abus e. The present study examined the relationship between levels of AS an d self-reported rates of weekly alcohol consumption and frequency of ' 'excessive drinking'' (i.e., number of times legally intoxicated per y ear). Subjects were 30 nonalcoholic university women, divided into thr ee AS groups (high, moderate, and low) based upon scores on the Anxiet y Sensitivity Index (ASI). High AS women reported consuming significan tly more alcoholic beverages on a weekly basis and drinking to excess more times per year than low AS controls. ASI scores were found to be significantly positively correlated with both measures of self-reporte d alcohol consumption. The results support the hypothesis of a positiv e relationship between AS levels in young adult women and extent of ex cessive alcohol use.