Dispositional Mindfulness Profiles and Cannabis Use among College Students

Abstract

The benefits of mindfulness have been well documented across several domains, including stress reduction, coping with chronic diseases, and relationship satisfaction. Previous research cites mindfulness as a protective factor against risky substance use, but the specific association between dispositional mindfulness (also known as trait mindfulness) and cannabis use has been inconsistent, with some studies finding a negative association and one reporting no significant relationship. Notably, much of the previous research has relied on variable-centered approaches. Only a handful of prior studies within the marijuana literature have utilized person-centered approaches, and only one has specifically examined dispositional mindfulness in relation to patterns of use. The present work advances scientific understanding by using a latent profile analysis to identify subtypes of dispositional mindfulness and their relation to cannabis use behaviors (i.e., cannabis use frequency, cannabis problems, and hazardous cannabis use) in a sample of college students. College students from seven universities across six states participated in an online survey of substance use and risk/protective factors. The current sample comprised 2,249 students who completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and measures of cannabis use. Findings revealed four discrete profiles of dispositional mindfulness: High-Traits profile (13%; characterized by high scores across all dispositional mindfulness facets), a Moderate-Traits profile (65%; characterized by moderate scores across all dispositional mindfulness facets), a Non-Judgmentally Aware profile (10%; marked by low scores on observing and nonreactivity, but high scores on non-judgment and acting with awareness), and an Observing Nonreactive profile (12%; composed of individuals with high scores on observing and nonreactivity). The Observing Nonreactive class reported the highest levels of marijuana consequences and hazardous use, while the remaining three groups did not differ significantly from one another in terms of problematic use. However, the Moderate-Traits class reported significantly more consequences than those in the High Traits and Non-Judgmentally Aware profiles. These results build upon the only known study that investigates how dispositional mindfulness relates to cannabis use. We found four homogenous profiles rather than three, including two classes that were previously uncovered (High Traits and Non-Judgmentally Aware). This research lends support to the finding that distinct facets of dispositional mindfulness differentially relate to cannabis use. Specifically, whereas high levels of the nonjudgmental and awareness facets appear protective against risky cannabis use, the observing and nonreactive facets appear related to risky cannabis use, and thus, merit further scrutinization. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between the five facets of dispositional mindfulness and cannabis use—gaining clarity on how the facets predict marijuana outcomes can help guide the substance use field toward more effective prevention and treatment of cannabis misuse and cannabis use disorder.