Abstract
Cannabis use is associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB) and sex-related negative health consequences. This investigation examined the role of inhibitory control and episodic memory in predicting RSB and sex-related negative consequences among current cannabis users. Findings indicated that the relationships among cannabis, neurocognition, and sexual-risk varied according to the dimension of neurocognition and the parameter of RSB in question. Specifically, more risk-taking was associated with more RSB. Furthermore, amount of recent cannabis use was associated with more RSB and sex-related negative consequences, but only among those with worse performances on a measure of decision-making and of risk-taking. Contrary to hypotheses, worse episodic memory also significantly predicted higher overall sexual-risk and decreased safe-sex practices. Results indicate that worse neurocognitive performance in the areas of risk-taking, decision-making, and episodic memory may influence the degree to which cannabis users engage in RSB and experience negative health consequences as a result. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1-7).
Highlights
Cannabis use is associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB), including earlier age of initiation, more partners, and less frequent use of protection (Copeland & Swift, 2009)
In this study we examine the possibility that neurocognitive performance on measures of inhibitory control may influence the extent to which cannabis users engage in RSB
The same pattern of results emerged with a trend for amount of recent cannabis use related to more sex-related negative consequences among those with higher risk-taking, χ2 = 3.39, p = .065, but not among those with less risk-taking, χ2 = .13, p = .72. This is the first study that examines whether neurocognitive performance contributes to the link between cannabis use and RSB
Summary
Cannabis use is associated with risky sexual behavior (RSB), including earlier age of initiation, more partners, and less frequent use of protection (Copeland & Swift, 2009). Results reveal that in HIV-seropositive substance abusers with better decision-making, greater emotional distress (Wardle et al, 2010) and sensation-seeking (Gonzalez et al, 2005) are associated with more RSB, providing preliminary evidence that individual differences in inhibitory control may be important in understanding susceptibility to sexualrisk. Because these investigations were limited to HIV-seropositive individuals who used primarily cocaine and heroin, and relied on only one measure of inhibitory control (Iowa Gambling Task), it remains unknown whether similar processes are evident among otherwise healthy cannabis users. We suspected that a greater amount of recent cannabis use would be linked with more RSB only among individuals with worse inhibitory control
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