The Interactive Influence of Cannabis-Related Negative Expectancies and Coping Motives on Cannabis Use Behavior and Problems.

Objectives: The present study tested whether coping motives for cannabis use moderate the effect of negative expectancies on cannabis use.

Methods: Participants were 149 (36.2% female, 61.59% non-Hispanic Caucasian) current cannabis users aged 18-36 (M = 21.01, SD = 3.09) who completed measures of cannabis-related expectancies and motives for use. Hierarchical multiple regressions were employed to investigate the predictive value of the interaction between negative expectancies and coping motives on cannabis use outcomes.

Results: Results revealed interactions between negative expectancies and coping motives with respect to past 90 day cannabis use frequency and cannabis problems. Global negative effects expectancies were associated with less frequent cannabis use, particularly among those with fewer coping motives. However, negative expectancies were related to more cannabis problems, particularly among those with higher coping motives.

Conclusions: These results suggest it may be advisable to take coping motives into account when addressing expectancies among cannabis users.