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Published on: August 18, 2020
Psychometric evaluation of the perceived barriers to cannabis reduction and cessation scale
Julia D Buckner1, Duckhyun Jo2, Justin M Shepherd2
1Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States.
Abstract:
Cannabis use remains high, with nearly one-third of people who use cannabis meeting criteria for a cannabis use disorder (CUD). Despite the availability of evidence-based psychosocial interventions for CUD, the vast majority of individuals with CUD do not seek treatment, and attrition rates are high among those who do. Similarly, relapse rates are very high among individuals who make self-quit attempts. It is therefore critical to identify barriers to cannabis reduction and cessation to inform treatment and prevention efforts. Although the Perceived Barriers for Cannabis Reduction and Cessation Scale (PBCRCS) was developed to assess barriers for cannabis reduction and cessation, little research has examined the psychometric properties of the measure.
Objective:
The current study examined the factor structure, measurement invariance of the measure across sex, and construct validity of the PBCRCS.
Method:
Participants were 527 (44.8% female) Hispanic/Latine adults (Mage = 36.54, SD = 10.29) who endorsed cannabis use. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the unidimensional model for PBCRCS with strong model fit.
Results:
The PBCRCS demonstrated unidimensional factor structure and measurement invariance across sex. It was also positively related to cannabis-related processes and negative affect.
Conclusions:
The findings provide novel empirical support for the PBCRCS as a reliable measure of perceived barriers for cannabis reduction and cessation that is related to several affective and cannabis processes relevant to cannabis use and cessation. This measure can be used to identify and address barriers to cannabis reduction and cessation efforts.
Public Health Significance:
Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder are common, yet many people who want to cut down or quit face significant barriers that hinder their success. This study provides psychometric evidence that the PBCRCS is a reliable tool for identifying these obstacles, helping clinicians and public health practitioners better tailor interventions designed to help people reduce or stop cannabis use.
