Readiness to change cannabis use: contributions of dispositional mindfulness and spirituality in a Nigerian sample

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the contributions of trait dispositional mindfulness and spiritual experience in predicting readiness to change cannabis use. Participants were 157 cannabis users (age range = 17–44 years; mean age = 24.50 years; SD = 4.28). Participants completed the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Spiritual Experience Index-Revised. Multiple regressions and correlations were used for data analysis, and the results showed that two dimensions of mindfulness – non-judging of inner experience and non-reactivity, positively predicted the three levels of readiness to change. Spiritual experience has a differential influence on the behaviour; while spiritual support negatively predicted recognition, ambivalence, and taking step, spiritual openness was positively related to the three levels of readiness to change. It was concluded that the utilisation of some mindfulness and spiritual concepts would be of benefit in the rehabilitation of individuals who abuse cannabis.

KEYWORDS:

• Cannabis use
• dispositional mindfulness
• readiness to change
• spiritual openness
• spiritual support

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Compliance with ethical standards

The ethical approval for this research was granted by the Ethical Committee, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Permission to conduct the study in popular joints was obtained from the store owners, while all the participants duly completed the informed consent form.