Anxiety Sensitivity Linked to Coping-Motivated Cannabis Use, Not Overall Use Frequency
A systematic review of 50 studies found that people who fear their own anxiety symptoms are more likely to use cannabis to cope, but not more likely to use cannabis overall.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Elevated anxiety sensitivity was directly associated with greater coping-oriented and potentially problematic cannabis use, but not with lifetime cannabis use or overall use frequency. The review proposes a model where high anxiety sensitivity leads to coping-motivated use, which in the presence of psychopathology and positive cannabis expectancies progresses to problematic use.
Key Numbers
50 studies reviewed. Two independent coders assessed risk of bias. Anxiety sensitivity associated with coping-oriented use but not lifetime use or frequency. Proposed conceptual model links AS to coping use to problematic use through psychopathology and positive expectancies.
How They Did This
Systematic review of 50 empirical studies from PubMed and PsycInfo through Spring 2024 examining associations between anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use. Two independent coders evaluated study characteristics and risk of bias. Results were qualitatively synthesized.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding why some people develop problematic cannabis use while others do not is key for prevention. This review identifies a specific psychological trait that predicts not whether someone uses cannabis, but why they use it and whether that use becomes problematic.
The Bigger Picture
This review bridges the conflicting findings on anxiety sensitivity and cannabis: some people with high AS may use cannabis to manage distressing sensations, while others avoid it because it worsens anxiety. The distinction may depend on coping motives and existing mental health conditions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Qualitative synthesis only, no meta-analytic effect sizes. Most included studies were cross-sectional. Publication bias not formally assessed. Heterogeneity in how anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use were measured across studies.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would interventions targeting anxiety sensitivity reduce problematic cannabis use?
- ?Does the proposed conceptual model hold up in prospective studies?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive search with independent coding, but qualitative synthesis and predominantly cross-sectional source studies limit evidence to moderate.
- Study Age:
- Literature search through Spring 2024.
- Original Title:
- Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review and conceptualization of research findings.
- Published In:
- Behaviour research and therapy, 188, 104733 (2025)
- Authors:
- Short, Nicole A(5), Weese, Rachel, Pezza, Mattea(2), Bedard-Gilligan, Michele A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07648
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is anxiety sensitivity?
Anxiety sensitivity is the fear of anxiety-related sensations themselves, such as a racing heart or shortness of breath, believing these sensations signal something harmful.
Does anxiety sensitivity make cannabis use more dangerous?
Not directly, but people with high anxiety sensitivity who use cannabis to cope may be at greater risk for developing problematic use patterns, especially if they also have other mental health conditions.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07648APA
Short, Nicole A; Weese, Rachel; Pezza, Mattea; Bedard-Gilligan, Michele A. (2025). Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review and conceptualization of research findings.. Behaviour research and therapy, 188, 104733. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2025.104733
MLA
Short, Nicole A, et al. "Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review and conceptualization of research findings.." Behaviour research and therapy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2025.104733
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use: A systematic review an..." RTHC-07648. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/short-2025-anxiety-sensitivity-and-cannabis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.