Are cannabis use motives and consequences stronger by gender?

Abstract

Background: Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit substance among emerging adults (18-25). As cannabis use rates increase it is important to further understand reasons why individuals use cannabis and the problematic consequences of cannabis use. Previous research has shown a variety of gender differences in recreational use vs. medical use, methods of cannabis use, and consequences related to cannabis use. However, little is known about gender differences in cannabis use motives and consequences related to cannabis use. To further understand the differential impact of cannabis use motives on problematic cannabis use, the present study examined whether gender moderated the connection between cannabis use motives and cannabis-related problems. It is hypothesized that gender will moderate the connection between cannabis use motives and cannabis-related consequences. Method: 401 emerging adults (51.9% female; 59.1% Caucasian) completed an online survey assessing gender, frequency of cannabis use, cannabis use motives, and cannabis related problems. Motives for cannabis use were measured using the Comprehensive Marijuana Motives Questionnaire (CMMQ) and problems related to cannabis use was measured using the Marijuana Problems Scale (MPS). The CMMQ consists of 36 items that assess 11 subtypes of cannabis use motives including alcohol, celebration, relative low risk, conformity, boredom, altered perception, sleep, availability, social anxiety, coping, and enjoyment. Bivariate correlations were used to examine the association between cannabis use motives, consequences related to cannabis use, and gender. Moderation analyses were then conducted to assess whether gender moderated the relationship between each cannabis use motive and consequences related to cannabis use. Results: Bivariate correlations revealed significant positive correlations for each cannabis use motive and consequences related to cannabis use (alcohol r = .28, p < .001 , celebration r = .20, p =.01, relative low risk r = .29, p < .001, conformity r = .23, p = .003, boredom r = .49, p < .001, altered perception r = .47, p < .001, sleep r = .30, p < .001, availability r = .29, p < .001, social anxiety r = .41, p < .001 , coping r = .45, p < .001 , and enjoyment r = .31, p < .001). Several moderation analyses revealed gender moderated the relationship for cannabis use motives and cannabis related consequences, but only for boredom motives (95% CI [-.75, -.26]), altered perception motives (95% CI [-.52, -.03]), availability motives (95% CI [-.85, -.28]), coping motives (95% CI [-.72, -.21]), and sleep motives (95% CI [-.67, -.18]). The connection between each of these motives and cannabis-related problems was significantly stronger for males vs. females. Conclusions: The results indicate that gender moderated the relationship between boredom motives, altered perception motives, availability motives, coping motives, and sleep motives and cannabis-related problems. The connection between these motives and cannabis-related problems was significantly stronger for males, suggesting that males who use cannabis for these reasons may be at elevated risk for experiencing cannabis-related problems relative to females who use cannabis for these reasons. Interventions that target cannabis-related problems may benefit from tailoring intervention elements based on gender.