Rolling With the Crowd: Examining Sex Differences in Cannabis Motives Among Students
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Research has shown that cannabis use has expanded rapidly in recent years among college-aged individuals and is often the product of social norms (e.g., peer pressure). Whereas participant sex is a robust predictor of alcohol use, little is known about how participant sex impacts cannabis use in reference to social influences. The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in conformity motives for cannabis use.
The sample consisted of 317 participants recruited from a mid-Atlantic university. Participants ranged in age from 18-25 (Mage = 19.70, SDage = 1.85) and was mostly female (n = 243, 76.7% female). We examined sex differences in cannabis use motives, where cannabis motives were assessed with the Marijuana Motives Measure. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to examine mean differences between participant sex regarding conformity cannabis use motives.
Results indicated that there was a significant difference between males and females for conformity cannabis use motives (e.g., “because my friends pressure me to use marijuana”). Compared to females (M = 1.44, SD = 0.78), males reported significantly higher (M = 1.68, SD = 1.09) conformity marijuana use motives, t(315) = -2.05, p < .001, d = .86, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.01].
Using a college-student sample, we confirmed that males are more likely to use cannabis to conform with peers. Future research should examine potential mechanisms that might explain the observed sex difference (e.g., greater value on peer acceptance, social anxiety). Cannabis use interventions might consider tailoring approaches based on reported cannabis use motives.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
James M. Henson
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Psychology
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Health Psychology
Session Title
Poster Session
Location
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Start Date
3-30-2024 8:30 AM
End Date
3-30-2024 10:00 AM
Rolling With the Crowd: Examining Sex Differences in Cannabis Motives Among Students
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Research has shown that cannabis use has expanded rapidly in recent years among college-aged individuals and is often the product of social norms (e.g., peer pressure). Whereas participant sex is a robust predictor of alcohol use, little is known about how participant sex impacts cannabis use in reference to social influences. The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in conformity motives for cannabis use.
The sample consisted of 317 participants recruited from a mid-Atlantic university. Participants ranged in age from 18-25 (Mage = 19.70, SDage = 1.85) and was mostly female (n = 243, 76.7% female). We examined sex differences in cannabis use motives, where cannabis motives were assessed with the Marijuana Motives Measure. An independent-samples t-test was conducted to examine mean differences between participant sex regarding conformity cannabis use motives.
Results indicated that there was a significant difference between males and females for conformity cannabis use motives (e.g., “because my friends pressure me to use marijuana”). Compared to females (M = 1.44, SD = 0.78), males reported significantly higher (M = 1.68, SD = 1.09) conformity marijuana use motives, t(315) = -2.05, p < .001, d = .86, 95% CI [-0.46, -0.01].
Using a college-student sample, we confirmed that males are more likely to use cannabis to conform with peers. Future research should examine potential mechanisms that might explain the observed sex difference (e.g., greater value on peer acceptance, social anxiety). Cannabis use interventions might consider tailoring approaches based on reported cannabis use motives.