A longitudinal study of negative urgency and problematic marijuana use among Argentinian students

YANINA MICHELINI; ADRIAN BRAVO; JUAN CARLOS GODOY ; ANGELINA PILATTI

Albuquerque

Congreso; Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Annual Meeting; 2023

Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction

Given high rates of marijuana use, identifying students at higher risk of exhibiting problematic use of marijuana will allow the design of better preventive interventions. Marijuana protective behavioral strategies (PSBM; i.e., behaviors perform when using marijuana to reduce consumption and associated problems), are an important protective factor for marijuana problems in college students. This study aimed to longitudinally examine the mediational role of PBSM in the relationship of negative urgency and coping motives on marijuana use and problems in Argentinian college students (i.e., negative urgency  coping motives  PBSM  marijuana use/problems). A sample of 796 participants (Mean age=23.46, SD=3.05; 75.3% females) completed two online surveys (six months between each) assessing marijuana use and problems, impulsivity traits, marijuana use motives, and PBSM. We found 60% of lifetime marijuana users reported last-three-months marijuana use of around 2 grams a week and an average of 2 associated problems. Moreover, less than 20% used PBSM usually or always. When we tested a comprehensive mediational model conducting path analyses, results showed higher levels of negative urgency (indirect β=.03, 95% CI[.002, .065]) and coping motives (indirect β=.03, 95% CI[.002, .062]) were associated with more marijuana use problems assessed six months later, via less PBSM use. Results suggest training PBSM use could be beneficial to reduce problematic marijuana use, especially, in students who have difficulties dealing with negative emotions.