Child and Adolescent Anxiety Sensitivity, Perceived Subjective Effects of Caffeine and Caffeine Consumption

Abstract

Background: Children and adolescents who are anxiety sensitive are attuned to bodily sensations and interpret them as threatening. The objectives of the current study were to test if anxiety sensitivity was related to perceiving greater subjective physiological effects of caffeine and, in turn, lowered levels of naturalistic caffeine use. Developmental differences between children and adolescents in these relations were also tested. Methods: Children (n=135) and adolescents (n=79) completed a measure of naturalistic caffeine intake, daily availability, and subjective effects of caffeine. Youth also completed a measure of anxiety sensitivity. Results: For both children and adolescents, anxiety sensitivity was positively associated with perceived stimulating and withdrawal effects, as well as greater perceived availability of caffeine. For children only, anxiety sensitivity was associated with greater perceived psychological effects of caffeine. Across both age groups, anxiety sensitivity predicted greater ...