Is marijuana identity associated with marijuana use and consequences? An examination of direct and interactive associations

Abstract

Background: There is relatively little research examining the relationship between identity and marijuana-related outcomes (e.g., marijuana use and consequences). Identity may both directly help shape marijuana use behaviors and moderate the influence of other risk factors on marijuana outcomes. Objectives: The current study examines the relationship between marijuana identity and marijuana-related outcomes among emerging adults and explores whether identity moderates the relationships between nonidentity correlates (e.g., perceived norms and negative affect) of marijuana-related outcomes. Methods: College students who reported marijuana use in the past 12 months completed measures of marijuana identity, perceived norms, negative affect, frequency of marijuana use, and marijuana consequences. Conclusions/Importance: The results indicated that marijuana identity is associated with marijuana use frequency and moderates the relationship between perceived norms and marijuana consequences. The findings have implications for both identity-based and social norms-based interventions targeting problematic marijuana use among emerging adults.

Keywords:

• Marijuana identity
• frequency of marijuana use
• perceived marijuana norms
• negative affect

Acknowledgements

Manuscript preparation was supported by the NIH (K01-AA026309-01A1 [PI: Montes]). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.