The indirect effect of anxiety sensitivity on smoking motives through false safety behaviors among Black adults who smoke

Key Points

• To investigate how anxiety sensitivity influences smoking motives through false safety behaviors in Black adults.
• Examined the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and smoking motives.
• Analyzed the mediating role of false safety behaviors.
• Included Black adults who smoke in the sample.
• Elevated anxiety sensitivity was significantly linked to increased smoking motives (p<.001).
• False safety behaviors served as a mediating factor between anxiety sensitivity and smoking motives.
• Interventions targeting false safety behaviors could enhance smoking cessation efforts.