Do motives for and contexts of cannabis use interact to predict heavy cannabis use at the event-level?

Motives for and contexts of cannabis use (CU) are typically examined as independent characteristics of CU events in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies. However, theories posit that some combinations of motives and contexts (e.g., using to cope in a solitary setting) may contribute to heavier substance use than others (e.g., using to cope in a social setting). The current study aimed to test whether these combinations are associated with heavier substance use at the event-level. We aimed to do so among a sample of young adult females given sex differences in cannabis risk processes, which oversampled sexual minority women and gender diverse individuals due to their high rates of CU.

We utilized EMA data from a study of young adult females who regularly used cannabis (n = 571; 77.6% sexual minority women and gender diverse individuals).

Coping motives and solitary settings interacted such that coping motives for CU were associated with longer and higher subjective intoxication but only in solitary settings. Social and enhancement motives did not interact with social contexts; however, social and enhancement motives, as well as social contexts, were associated with longer intoxication and higher subjective intoxication.

Findings indicated that coping motives were only associated with CU when combined with solitary use. Social and enhancement motives and social contexts produced additive effects.

Findings indicate that studies examining the effects of coping motives or solitary cannabis use in isolation may not accurately characterize these effects.