Date of Award

8-23-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Aesoon Park

Keywords

affect;cannabis;consequences;EMA;loneliness;social context

Subject Categories

Clinical Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Objective: Social discomfort, including loneliness and adverse interpersonal experiences, is associated with greater solitary cannabis use, and in turn with worse cannabis consequences, among emerging adults. Temporality of this relationship, however, remains unknown due to largely cross-sectional findings. This 15-day experience sampling study tested the relationship of (a) social discomfort with proximal solitary cannabis use, (b) solitary cannabis use with next-day cannabis consequences, and (c) solitary cannabis use as a potential mediator for the relationship of social discomfort with cannabis consequences. Methods: Momentary assessment data were drawn from 59 emerging adult solitary cannabis users (Mage= 22.88 [SD=1.79]; 61% female; 66% Black). Multilevel structural equation models were used to test direct and indirect relationships of social discomfort, solitary cannabis use, and cannabis consequences within- and between-person over time. All analyses controlled for sex, age, Black race, and subjective high at time of survey completion. Results: Moment-to-moment, participants had greater odds of reporting solitary cannabis use in moments of greater loneliness (OR = 1.02 [1.01, 1.03], p < .001), but not greater negative interpersonal exchanges (p = .21) relative to person-average. Day-to-day, greater solitary use (OR = 1.44, p = .03) and greater social use (OR = 1.56, p = .01) relative to person-average were associated with greater odds of next-day cannabis consequences. Solitary use did not mediate social discomfort-consequence relationships (all ps > .05). Conclusions: Findings provide novel evidence for proximal consequences of solitary cannabis use. Findings also highlight a proximal relationship of loneliness with solitary cannabis use, but this relationship does not extend temporally to the next moment or the next day, suggesting loneliness as a potential intervention cue to prevent solitary cannabis use and downstream consequences.

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