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Direct and Indirect Effects of Cannabis Risk Perceptions on Cannabis Use Frequency.
Autumn Rae Florimbio1,2, Maureen A Walton1,2,3, Elizabeth R Duval4
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd. Building 16, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Addiction Research & Theory
|January 25, 2024
Summary
Emerging adults who perceive greater harm from cannabis use tend to use fewer protective strategies, leading to less frequent cannabis consumption. This highlights the link between perceived risk and reduced cannabis use frequency.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Cannabis Research
Background:
- Perceived risk of cannabis harm has declined, especially among emerging adults with high usage rates.
- Cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) correlate with reduced use and consequences.
- Low perceived risk may lead to decreased use of cannabis PBS.
Purpose of the Study:
- Examine associations between perceived cannabis harm, PBS, and use frequency in emerging adults.
- Investigate how perceived risk influences cannabis use frequency through PBS.
- Understand the role of risk perception in cannabis use patterns among young adults.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 146 emerging adults (18-25 years) with high cannabis use frequency.
- Assessed past-month cannabis use, past three-month cannabis PBS use, and perceived harm.
- Employed path analyses to evaluate direct and indirect effects.
Main Results:
- A majority reported no perceived risk from occasional (66.4%) or regular (30.1%) cannabis use.
- Significant indirect effect found: higher perceived harm associated with lower use frequency via increased PBS use (b = -10.23, p = .007).
Conclusions:
- Greater perceived cannabis harm linked to reduced use frequency through enhanced PBS in regular young adult users.
- Findings suggest potential for harm reduction interventions targeting risk perception.
- Further research needed to confirm causal pathways.
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