Measurement Invariance of the Sex-Related Cannabis Expectancies Scale across Age and Gender

ABSTRACT

Sex-related cannabis expectancies have been found to be associated with intentions to use cannabis, cannabis use, and sexual behavior. However, the construct of sex-related cannabis expectancies has been adapted from research with limited examination of the scales themselves. We tested (N = 350 adolescents age 13–17; N = 929 young adults age 18–29) measurement invariance of a sex-related cannabis expectancies scale and found the scale invariant between adolescents and emerging adults as well as between genders. But the partial invariance across age groups suggested that one item from the scale contained systematic errors in assessing the age group differences and warrants additional examination. Latent mean difference tests revealed that young people’s sex-related cannabis expectancies differ between age groups and genders.

Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported in part by funds provided by the State of Washington Initiative Measure No. 502 (PIs: Hust & Willoughby).

Notes

¹ Throughout we use the term cannabis, although some prior research has used other terms (e.g., marijuana, pot, weed). We used the term marijuana when we collected the data, as our research has found young people are less likely to use the term cannabis than other terms.

Additional information

Funding

The grant was administered by the WSU Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research program.