Sociodemographic differences in knowledge, perceptions, and intentions regarding stimulant misuse: A theory-informed...

Stimulant misuse is a rising concern in the United States.

The purpose of this study was to better understand the U.S. general public's knowledge, perceptions, and intentions regarding stimulant misuse, and to assess sociodemographic differences.

Americans age ≥ 18 were recruited for a cross-sectional, anonymous online survey using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Outcomes, guided by the Health Belief Model, included: knowledge; perceived susceptibility, severity, and benefits surrounding prescription and non-prescription stimulant use/misuse; perceived barriers to medical stimulant use and seeking help for stimulant misuse; and non-medical stimulant use intentions. Mann-Whitney U tests assessed differences across age (young adults/adults [≤44] versus middle-aged/older adults [>44]), sex, race, and urbanicity. Linear regression assessed predictors of intentions.

Respondents (N = 303) were 48.2 % female, 80.2 % White, mean 43.65 years, and 84.2 % urban-residing. Stimulant knowledge was higher among females (p = 0.017) and White individuals (p = 0.043). Perceived severity of stimulant misuse was higher among >44-year-olds (p = 0.006), females (p = 0.007), and rural residents (p = 0.009), with rural residents perceiving greater susceptibility overall (p = 0.022). Barriers to seeking help for stimulant misuse were higher among ≤44-year-olds (p = 0.025), while non-medical stimulant use intentions were higher among >44-year-olds (p = 0.002), males (p < 0.001), and urban residents (p = 0.031). Perceived severity of prescription (β = -0.268; p < 0.001) and non-prescription misuse (β = -0.191; p = 0.001), non-prescription stimulant benefits (β = 0.239; p < 0.001), barriers to seeking help (β = 0.078; p = 0.026), and age (β = -0.006; p = 0.028) predicted non-medical stimulant use intentions.

Knowledge, perceptions, and non-medical stimulant use intentions differed across age, sex, race, and urbanicity. Future studies should explore strategies to overcome these disparities.