Mechanical properties, densities, and oxygen diffusion coefficients have been measured in polystyrene samples (PS) as a function of additive loading. The additive employed is based on castor oil, and is a desirable alternative to phthalates. Tensile strength measurements indicate the additive renders PS stronger at low loadings, i.e. it antiplasticizes the material. In contrast, the additive plasticizes PS at high loadings. Specific volumes and oxygen diffusion coefficients do not show this dual behavior. Rather, one observes a monotonic decrease in density and oxygen diffusivity with an increase in additive loading. This suggests that the larger segmental motions responsible for the macroscopic properties of the polymer are influenced by the additive in a different manner than the local motions and confined changes in free volume that govern the mobility of oxygen. These data indicate that antiplasticization cannot be predicted solely from diffusivity and density measurements and, vice versa, trends in diffusivity cannot be deduced from mechanical measurements alone. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 118: 1643-1650, 2010