Social Anxiety and Cannabis-Related Problems

The Serial Roles of Distress Tolerance and Cannabis Use Motives

Bibliographic Data

ID21645388
AuthorsPaige E Morris (0000-0001-9771-9051, Louisiana State University), Luke A Vargo (0000-0003-4173-2374, Louisiana State University), Julia D Buckner (0000-0002-9277-9300, Louisiana State University, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume59
Issue7
Pages1133-1140
Publication date2024-06-06
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSubstance Use & Misuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1082-6084 • E-ISSN: 1532-2491
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10826084.2024.2320400
PMID38403969
OpenAlexW4392165091
LanguageEN
References cited56

Background: Individuals with elevated social anxiety are vulnerable to experiencing negative consequences related to cannabis use. One transdiagnostic vulnerability factor that has received little attention in the social anxiety-cannabis problem relation is distress tolerance, which is associated with more cannabis use to manage negative affect broadly (i.e., coping motives) and cannabis-related problems. However, it is unknown whether distress tolerance is related to greater cannabis use to manage social anxiety specifically (i.e., social anxiety motives). Objectives: This study tested whether the relation between social anxiety and cannabis problems occurred via perceived distress tolerance among 309 (77.3% female) undergraduates who endorsed current (past three-month) cannabis use. Results: Social anxiety was negatively associated with distress tolerance and positively associated with cannabis problems, coping, and social anxiety motives. Social anxiety was indirectly (via distress tolerance) related to more cannabis problems and motives to cope with negative affect generally and to cope with social anxiety specifically. Social anxiety was indirectly related to more cannabis problems via the serial effects of distress tolerance and coping and social anxiety motives. Conclusions: Findings suggest that individuals with elevated social anxiety may be vulnerable to using cannabis to manage negative affect (generally and social anxiety specifically) due to low perceived ability to tolerate psychological distress, which may lead to more cannabis problems. Keywords: cannabis; marijuana; distress tolerance; social anxiety; motives; coping motives

Anxiety · Cannabis · Distress · Psychiatry · Social anxiety · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Media Influence and Health · Psychology

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