Cannabis use among Canadian university students: Norm perceptions and interest in online supports

• Author / Creator

  Loverock, Alexandra M

• Cannabis is one of the most widely used and misused substances, yet research on plausible intervention targets and strategies to reduce cannabis use is underdeveloped. This thesis addressed these issues in two secondary analyses of population survey data in the 2018 Campus Experiences with Cannabis survey conducted at the University of Alberta (N = 3,562).
  Study 1 background and hypotheses: Research on cannabis-related social norm perceptions among young adults is limited because no studies have examined whether norm perceptions differ between cannabis users who do and do not meet screening criteria for hazardous and harmful use. We hypothesized that problematic cannabis users would be more likely than non-problematic users to (1) mistakenly believe that social reference groups use about the same amount of cannabis as they do, (2) adjust private approval of peer cannabis use to match mistaken public approval norms, and (3) believe that behavioral and social consequences are less definitive of problematic cannabis use. Analyses: Secondary analyses of data collected from 753 young adult cannabis users (57% female; M age = 22.6). Parametric and non-parametric ANOVAs examined respondents’ perceptions and beliefs regarding the cannabis use of same-sex friends, peers, and average Albertans. Results: Contrary to prediction, problematic cannabis users were more likely than those not meeting criteria for cannabis problems to (accurately) believe that all social reference groups use cannabis less frequently than they do. However, problematic cannabis users were more likely than non-problematic users to adjust private approval of fellow students’ cannabis use to match perceived public approval, and to believe that several sociobehavioral consequences are less definitive of problematic use. Conclusion: Interventions may reduce cannabis misuse by correcting norm misperceptions.
  Study 2 background and hypotheses: Only a fraction of cannabis users who experience problems with this substance ever seek help or access specialty treatment. Although this treatment gap could be reduced by implementing online brief interventions and self-help resources, it is not clear whether cannabis users would be interested in accessing those tools. We examined whether cannabis-related problems, motives for using cannabis, and protective behavioral strategies predicted interest in accessing online self-help materials. We hypothesized that (1) problematic cannabis use will be positively associated with interest in accessing brief online self-help materials, (2) using cannabis to cope (but not other motives), will be positively associated with interest in self-help materials, and (3) cannabis-related protective behaviors will be inversely associated with interest in self-help. Analyses: Secondary analyses of 649 cannabis-using Canadian University students (58% female; M age = 22.5) participating in a population survey. Two setwise hierarchical multiple linear regression models were fit to predict interest in (a) cannabis-specific support resources and (b) general addiction and mental health supports, from objective risk status, motives, and protective behaviors. Results: Most (59%) respondents were interested in accessing one or more online supports. Objective risk status, coping, enhancement and expansion motives, and protective behaviors were all positively associated with interest in accessing online resources, each accounting for unique variance in the outcomes. Conclusion: Problematic cannabis users are interested in accessing brief, online, public health interventions.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • self-help
  • Canada
  • university students
  • cannabis
  • social norms

• Graduation date

  Fall 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-m07b-8859

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.