Prospective associations between traditional masculinity and cannabis, hard drug, and alcohol use in Australian emerging adult men

Abstract

The current study assessed the association between traditional masculine norms and cannabis use, hard drug use (e.g., amphetamines and cocaine), and hazardous alcohol use at two-year follow-up. The sample comprised 2170 Australian emerging adult men (18–29 years old) who completed Wave 1 (2013–2014) and Wave 2 (2015–2016) of the Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health survey. Lagged logistic regressions showed that the playboy (Odds Ratio [OR] ranging 1.30–1.65) and risk-taking (OR ranging 1.35–1.96) norms conveyed risk for each of hazardous alcohol use, cannabis use, and hard drug use at two-year follow-up. Several outcome-specific findings were also demonstrated across the hegemonically-masculine norms, with increased adherence to certain hegemonically-masculine norms conveying risk for engagement in substance use in emerging adult men. These findings suggest that treatments focusing on improving social supports might help emerging men avoid substance abuse issues.