Sensation Seeking as a Moderator of Perceptual and Cognitive Enhancement Expectancies and Past-Month Marijuana Frequency
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Positive expectancies, or the perceived favorable outcomes of substance use, are positively associated with marijuana use. However, previous research on the role of perceptual and cognitive enhancement (PCE) expectancies in accounting for marijuana use is mixed. Sensation seeking is a risk factor that may explain this nuanced relationship, such that individuals who have a greater need for stimulation and new experience may convey stronger associations between PCE expectancies and marijuana use. Thus, this study sought to (1) evaluate the associations between PCE expectancies and the four subscales of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) and (2) test the interactive effects of PCE expectancies and BSSS subscales in accounting for past-month marijuana frequency. Participants were 1,530 lifetime users of marijuana (72.7% cisgender female; 40.8% White; Mage20.41, SD = 2.79) who completed a 45-minute, online survey. Bivariate correlations were small but significant between PCE expectancies and all four BSSS subscales: Experience Seeking (r = .17), Boredom Susceptibility (r = .20), Thrill and Adventure Seeking (r = .16), and Disinhibition (r = .22). Regression analyses revealed a significant interaction only for Disinhibition (B = 0.33, p = .035), such that the significant and positive association between PCE expectancies and marijuana frequency was stronger for individuals with higher scores on the BSSS Disinhibition subscale. Thus, individuals prone to risky, disinhibited behavior are especially likely to act on PCE expectancies. Future studies may further contextualize this relationship by examining protective factors that may attenuate the link between PCE expectancies and marijuana use.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Cathy Lau-Barraco
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Psychology
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster
Disciplines
Clinical 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
Sensation Seeking as a Moderator of Perceptual and Cognitive Enhancement Expectancies and Past-Month Marijuana Frequency
Learning Commons Lobby @ Perry Library
Positive expectancies, or the perceived favorable outcomes of substance use, are positively associated with marijuana use. However, previous research on the role of perceptual and cognitive enhancement (PCE) expectancies in accounting for marijuana use is mixed. Sensation seeking is a risk factor that may explain this nuanced relationship, such that individuals who have a greater need for stimulation and new experience may convey stronger associations between PCE expectancies and marijuana use. Thus, this study sought to (1) evaluate the associations between PCE expectancies and the four subscales of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) and (2) test the interactive effects of PCE expectancies and BSSS subscales in accounting for past-month marijuana frequency. Participants were 1,530 lifetime users of marijuana (72.7% cisgender female; 40.8% White; Mage20.41, SD = 2.79) who completed a 45-minute, online survey. Bivariate correlations were small but significant between PCE expectancies and all four BSSS subscales: Experience Seeking (r = .17), Boredom Susceptibility (r = .20), Thrill and Adventure Seeking (r = .16), and Disinhibition (r = .22). Regression analyses revealed a significant interaction only for Disinhibition (B = 0.33, p = .035), such that the significant and positive association between PCE expectancies and marijuana frequency was stronger for individuals with higher scores on the BSSS Disinhibition subscale. Thus, individuals prone to risky, disinhibited behavior are especially likely to act on PCE expectancies. Future studies may further contextualize this relationship by examining protective factors that may attenuate the link between PCE expectancies and marijuana use.