The association between reinforcement sensitivity and substance use is mediated by individual differences in dispositional affectivity in adolescents

•Reinforcement sensitivity-teen substance use association is mediated by affectivity.•Effects are unique and shared, depending on domain of reinforcement sensitivity.•Effects vary with index of dispositional affectivity and type of substance considered. Adolescence marks the onset of substance use experimentation and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to certain negative effects of substances. Some evidence indicates reinforcement sensitivity is associated with substance use, though little is known about mechanisms underlying such association. in the current study were to examine, (1) associations between behavioral activation (BAS) and behavioral inhibition (BIS) system sensitivity, positive (PA) and negative affectivity (NA), and alcohol use and alcohol problems as well as tobacco, and marijuana use, and whether (2) associations are mediated by PA or NA. Participants were a community sample of N = 125 adolescents (Mage = 15.67 years; SD = 0.93; 52% boys) who completed self-report measures. evinced associations, generally as expected, across variables (all ps