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03-01-2024 | Original Article

The Mediating Role of Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana in the Relationship Between Personality and Cannabis Use Outcomes

Authors: Krystal I. Soucy, Sherry H. Stewart, Alexandra Loverock, T. Cameron Wild, Igor Yakovenko

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

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Abstract

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), hopelessness (H), sensation seeking (SS), and impulsivity (IMP) are traits implicated in substance misuse risk. Protective behavioral strategies for marijuana (PBS-M) are behaviors that decrease adverse effects of cannabis use. We hypothesized H, SS, and IMP would be associated with increased adverse cannabis outcomes via decreased PBS-M use, whereas AS would be indirectly associated with decreased cannabis outcomes via increased PBS-M use, and directly associated with increased cannabis-related problems. Analyses were conducted on data from N = 520 past six-month cannabis-using university students who completed measures of personality, PBS-M, cannabis use frequency, and cannabis-related problems. H and IMP were associated with more frequent and problematic cannabis use via decreased PBS-M use. AS was associated with less frequent and problematic cannabis use via increased PBS-M use. PBS-M may prove a useful intervention target to mitigate risk for frequent and problematic cannabis use in university students high on H or IMP.
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Metadata
Title
The Mediating Role of Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana in the Relationship Between Personality and Cannabis Use Outcomes
Authors
Krystal I. Soucy
Sherry H. Stewart
Alexandra Loverock
T. Cameron Wild
Igor Yakovenko
Publication date
03-01-2024
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-023-01203-x