Daily Assessment of Positive and Negative Cannabis Use Expectancies in Young Adult Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Users: Differences by Sociodemographics, Mental Health Symptoms, and Possible Cannabis Use Disorder

Abstract

Objective: Expectancies play a critical role in cannabis use behavior and are influenced by sociodemographic and intrapersonal factors. This study examined daily endorsement of positive and negative cannabis use expectancies using 28 days of ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) in relation to sociodemographics, mental health symptoms, and cannabis use disorder (CUD) among young adult cannabis-tobacco co-users. Method: Ninety-seven young adult (ages 18-24) cannabis and tobacco co-users reported on anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and possible CUD at baseline. During the 28 days of EMAs, participants reported on 16 positive (n = 7) and negative (n = 9) cannabis use expectancies they anticipated would occur in the next 24 hours. Descriptive statistics examined the proportion of EMA days each expectancy was endorsed. Multivariable logistic regressions examined associations of expectancies with anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and possible CUD, controlling for sociodemographics. Results: The most frequently endorsed expectancies were positive (e.g., feeling good, getting along with others), while the least frequently endorsed were negative (e.g., drinking too much, having an argument). In regression models, participants endorsing more days of expecting to feel anxious displayed higher odds of anxiety and depressive symptoms; those endorsing more days of expecting to be in a bad mood displayed higher odds of depressive symptoms; those endorsing more days of expecting to feel tired or unmotivated displayed higher odds of possible CUD. Conclusions: Expectancies of cannabis benefits and consequences are heterogeneous, endorsed in different frequencies across days, and they may have important implications for mental health symptoms and cannabis use severity among young adults who co-use.