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Marijuana use, introspectiveness, and mental health
B Zablocki1, A Aidala, S Hansell
1Department of Sociology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
Journal of Health and Social Behavior
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Marijuana use can negatively impact mental health, particularly for highly introspective individuals. For those less introspective, marijuana use does not appear to affect psychological well-being.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Conflicting evidence exists regarding the association between marijuana use and mental health outcomes.
- The impact of marijuana on psychological well-being may vary across different user subgroups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between marijuana use and the personality trait of introspectiveness on psychological well-being.
- To determine if specific user characteristics modify the mental health effects of marijuana.
Main Methods:
- The study examined the relationship between self-reported marijuana use and psychological distress.
- Personality disposition, specifically introspectiveness, was assessed as a potential moderator.
- Qualitative descriptions of marijuana experiences were analyzed for different introspectiveness levels.
Main Results:
- A significant positive association was found between marijuana use and psychological distress among highly introspective individuals.
- No significant association between marijuana use and psychological distress was observed in individuals low on introspectiveness.
- Highly introspective users reported self-oriented cognitive/emotional experiences, while less introspective users reported perceptual distortions/sensorimotor sensations.
Conclusions:
- Introspectiveness moderates the relationship between marijuana use and psychological distress.
- The subjective experiences associated with marijuana use differ based on an individual's level of introspectiveness.