Protective Behavioral Strategies Mediate the Relation Between Sensation Seeking and Marijuana-Related Consequences

Abstract

Background: Greater levels of sensation seeking are associated with experiencing more marijuana-related consequences (MRC). Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) use is associated with both the lower frequency of marijuana use and fewer marijuana-related consequences. However, research has not examined whether PBS use mediates the relation between sensation seeking and MRC. Methods: The current study is a secondary data analysis of the initial Marijuana Outcomes Study Team data collection. A path analysis was conducted to assess for indirect effects from both risk and experience seeking (facets of sensation seeking) to MRC via frequency of PBS use, controlling for marijuana use frequency. Results: We found negative relations between both experience seeking and PBS and MRC, and a positive relation between risk seeking and MRC. Furthermore, PBS mediated the relation between both risk and experience seeking and MRC. Conclusions: Results suggest that PBS is a mediator of the sensation seeking-MRC relationship. Discussions about selecting and implementing PBS use may be particularly useful for treatment of clients high in risk seeking.

Keywords:

• Marijuana
• protective behavioral strategies
• marijuana-related consequences
• sensation seeking
• risk seeking
• marijuana protective behavioral strategies
• mPBS

Acknowledgments

This project was completed by the Marijuana Outcomes Study Team (MOST), which includes the following investigators (in alphabetical order): Amber M. Anthenien, University of Houston; Adrian J. Bravo, University of New Mexico; Bradley T. Conner, Colorado State University; Christopher J. Correia, Auburn University; Robert D. Dvorak, University of Central Florida; Gregory A. Egerton, University at Buffalo; John T. P. Hustad, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Tatyana Kholodkov, University of Wyoming; Kevin M. King, University of Washington; Bruce S. Liese, University of Kansas; Bryan G. Messina, Auburn University; James G. Murphy, The University of Memphis; Clayton Neighbors, University of Houston; Xuan- Thanh Nguyen, University of California, Los Angeles; Jamie E. Parnes, Colorado State University; Matthew R. Pearson, University of New Mexico; Eric R. Pedersen, RAND; Mark A. Prince, Colorado State University; Sharon A. Radomski, University at Buffalo; Lara A. Ray, University of California, Los Angeles; Jennifer P. Read, University at Buffalo.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Jamie E. Parnes, Mark A. Prince, and Bradley T. Conner are supported by a Marijuana Public Health Research Grant (2017-3415) from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.