Submission Type
Poster
Abstract
With increased accessibility to cannabis due to recreational legalization, cannabis use frequency has been steadily increasing among college students within the United States (Kerr et al., 2023). There is limited research on why students are motivated to use cannabis at different points in their college experience. Motives are the reasons for using substances, which can vary amongst individuals. To address the research gap, it’s necessary to examine cannabis motives based on class standing. Data for these analyses were drawn from a larger investigation of cannabis use and emotion regulation in college students attending SUNY Geneseo. Participants were students enrolled in a Psychology 100-level course (N= 72) surveyed during the 2021-2022 academic year. Participants completed an online survey, which included the Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM), which measures social, conformity, coping, enhancement, and expansion motives (Simons et al., 1998). Using t-tests to compare mean differences among class standings, we hypothesized that juniors and seniors will report more enhancement motives, while first- and second-year students will report higher expansion and conformity motives. Lastly, it is hypothesized that there will be no significant difference between coping or social motives by class standing. A limitation of this investigation includes a majority of the population being first-year students. Findings will help us to understand reasons behind marijuana use on college campuses and can guide educational interventions and training provided for college students, as well as, faculty to focus on reducing cannabis use among those who are not intrinsically motivated to do so.
Recommended Citation
James, Madison, "151-Marijuana Motives and Different Class Standings Among College Students" (2024). GREAT Day Posters. 38.
https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/great-day-symposium/great-day-2024/posters-2024/38
151-Marijuana Motives and Different Class Standings Among College Students
With increased accessibility to cannabis due to recreational legalization, cannabis use frequency has been steadily increasing among college students within the United States (Kerr et al., 2023). There is limited research on why students are motivated to use cannabis at different points in their college experience. Motives are the reasons for using substances, which can vary amongst individuals. To address the research gap, it’s necessary to examine cannabis motives based on class standing. Data for these analyses were drawn from a larger investigation of cannabis use and emotion regulation in college students attending SUNY Geneseo. Participants were students enrolled in a Psychology 100-level course (N= 72) surveyed during the 2021-2022 academic year. Participants completed an online survey, which included the Marijuana Motives Measure (MMM), which measures social, conformity, coping, enhancement, and expansion motives (Simons et al., 1998). Using t-tests to compare mean differences among class standings, we hypothesized that juniors and seniors will report more enhancement motives, while first- and second-year students will report higher expansion and conformity motives. Lastly, it is hypothesized that there will be no significant difference between coping or social motives by class standing. A limitation of this investigation includes a majority of the population being first-year students. Findings will help us to understand reasons behind marijuana use on college campuses and can guide educational interventions and training provided for college students, as well as, faculty to focus on reducing cannabis use among those who are not intrinsically motivated to do so.