Characteristics associated with marijuana use in Latinx college students

Abstract

While marijuana use rates are significantly high within college students, less is known about use patterns and correlates in Latinx groups. This study assessed the relationships between ever use and frequency of use of marijuana, polysubstance use, expectancies, motives, and mental illness symptoms among Latinx college students (n = 345). Results indicated more frequent marijuana use was positively associated with: enjoyment, celebration, social anxiety, low risk, sleep and availability and was negatively associated with: experimentation, boredom, altered perception, and anxiety. Other dual use with tobacco expectancies were also observed. These constructs should be explored prospectively and inform prevention and intervention efforts.

Keywords:

• Marijuana
• Latinx
• college student
• substance use
• mental health

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all past and current members of the Prevention and Treatment in Clinical Health laboratory for their assistance with this study.

Contributors

All authors significantly contributed to the writing and editing of the manuscript and have given approval of submission of their work for consideration of publication in the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Funding

No outside funding was received to conduct the current study.

Notes

1 The term Latinx will be used throughout the article, including when reviewing articles that use other terms such as Hispanic.