Anxiety and Cannabis-Related Behaviors Among Black/African American Undergraduates
The Role of False Safety Behaviors
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21645121 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Julia D Buckner (0000-0002-9277-9300, Louisiana State University, corresponding author), M J Zvolensky (0000-0002-1869-0906, University of Houston), Lorra Garey (0000-0002-4167-7232, University of Houston), Michael S Businelle (0000-0002-9038-2238, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Pages | 1550-1555 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Substance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10826084.2025.2506133 |
| PMID | 40387069 |
| OpenAlex | W4410500547 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 34 |
Introduction: Black/African American individuals who use cannabis report greater increases in frequent cannabis use and more cannabis-related problems, indicating a need to identify malleable psychological factors that may play a role in cannabis-related problems to inform prevention and treatment. One such factor is false safety behaviors (FSBs), or behaviors geared toward decreasing anxiety short-term but that maintain anxiety in the long-term. Although emerging data indicate that FSBs are related to cannabis use in predominantly White samples, studies have not yet tested whether FSBs are related to cannabis use among Black/African American individuals who use cannabis. Method: Participants were 79 (64.6% cis-female) Black/African American undergraduates who endorsed current cannabis use and who completed an online survey. Results: All but three participants (96.2%) reported using non-cannabis FSB to manage anxiety. FSBs were positively related to cannabis use frequency, cannabis problems, and coping-motivated cannabis use, as well as anxiety and depression. The relations of anxiety with cannabis use frequency and use-related problems occurred via the serial effects of frequency of FSB use and coping-motivated cannabis use. Conclusions: Nearly all participants reported using FSB to manage anxiety. More frequent FSB use may play an important role in the relation of anxiety with cannabis misuse. Given that little attention has been paid to psychological factors related to cannabis use and related problems among Black/African American undergraduates, results can inform theoretical models and intervention efforts geared toward reducing risky cannabis use in this health disparities group
Anxiety · Cannabis · Developmental psychology · Marijuana smoking · Medical emergency · Poison control · Psychiatry · Safety behaviors · Substance use · Suicide prevention · Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (Dass-21)
Validating a five-factor marijuana motives measure
Comparison of extended versus brief treatments for marijuana use.
Addiction Motivation Reformulated
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Alcohol-Related Problems Among Black Adults
Predictors of motives for marijuana use in African American adolescents and emerging adults
Cannabis use frequency and use-related impairment among African-American and White users
Beyond Baron and Kenny
Syndromic surveillance
The Influence of Distressed Coping on the Relationship between Perceived Racial Discrimination and Cannabis Use among Black College Students
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What can specificity designs say about causality in psychopathology research
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |