A Day in the Life: A Daily Diary Examination of Marijuana Motives and Protective Behavioral Strategies Among College Student Marijuana Users

• Author: Adrian J. Bravo,Jamie E. Parnes,Bradley T. Conner,Matthew R. Pearson
• Published date: 01 April 2020
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042619890837
• Date: 01 April 2020
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042619890837

Journal of Drug Issues

2020, Vol. 50(2) 142 –156

© The Author(s) 2019

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042619890837

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Article

A Day in the Life: A Daily Diary

Examination of Marijuana Motives

and Protective Behavioral

Strategies Among College Student

Marijuana Users

Matthew R. Pearson1, Adrian J. Bravo1,

Bradley T. Conner2, and Jamie E. Parnes2

Abstract

This study examined marijuana-use motives and protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as within-

and between-subject predictors of marijuana-related outcomes. Furthermore, we explored

differences between a specific marijuana-related event (i.e., 4/20) compared with typical weekend/

weekday use. Forty-three college student marijuana users (31 females) completed daily surveys

for 12 days (April 15–April 26, 2016). Four motives (coping, conformity, enhancement, and

social) were associated with more negative consequences within-subjects. Enhancement and

conformity motives were also associated with a higher number of use sessions, and expansion

motives were associated with higher subjective high. Marijuana PBS use (total score) was

associated with fewer sessions and lower subjective high within-subjects. Social motives were

higher, whereas PBS use and coping motives were lower on 4/20 compared with other days.

Our findings support PBS and certain use motives as promising intervention targets for college

student marijuana users.

Keywords

marijuana use, marijuana consequences, college students, marijuana-use motives, marijuana

protective behavioral strategies, daily diary

Introduction

Although research indicates that marijuana use among college students is prevalent (Johnston

et al., 2015; Pearson, Liese, et al., 2017), recent research suggests that college marijuana users

are a heterogeneous group with differing use patterns, and these use patterns are associated with

differential risk for experiencing negative consequences from marijuana use (Pearson, Bravo,

et al., 2017). Taken together, there is a need to address the heterogeneity of use patterns in this

population to discern individual and event-related characteristics that differentiate use patterns

1The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

2Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

Corresponding Author:

Matthew R. Pearson, Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, & Addictions, The University of New Mexico, 2650

Yale Blvd SE, Albuquerque 87106, NM, USA.

Email: mateo.pearson@gmail.com

890837JODXXX10.1177/0022042619890837Journal of Drug IssuesPearson et al.

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