Thesis
An experimental test of the effect of acute stress on behavioral willingness to use cannabis under laboratory conditions
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
05/2020
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004037
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/124584
Abstract
Recent legislation permitting recreational cannabis use in regions of the United States has coincided with declines in young adults' perceived harm of cannabis use. Being in a critical stage of identity development, young adults are particularly at risk of developing long-lasting problems in the areas of employment and academics as a result of chronic cannabis use. While the immediate effect of cannabis on acute stress may be situationally- or dose-dependent, young adults often report the anxiolytic properties of cannabis and commonly cite reduction of stress as a motive for using cannabis. However, investigations of acute stress and cannabis use have relied on participant self-report of cannabis use episodes through aggregate recall or ecological momentary assessment (EMA), allowing for assessment of the relationship between cannabis use and acute stress across hours or days, but restricted in ability to causally link acute stress with decisions to use cannabis. The Cannabis Simulated Intoxication Digital Elicitation (CanSIDE), an audio simulation task modelling behavioral willingness to consume substances in peer contexts, offers an opportunity to observe the relationship between acute stress and cannabis use decision-making under experimentally-controlled conditions. In a 2-condition experimental manipulation (N=26), the effects of a stress-induction condition and control condition were tested on Cannabis Use Willingness, with acute stress response tested as a mediator of condition and willingness. The stress induction task was found to result in a significant subjective stress response, but not a physiological stress response. No significant indirect effect was found, and there was no direct or total effect found between condition and willingness to use cannabis, suggesting a similar lack-of-relationship between acute stress and cannabis use willingness as is seen between acute stress and cannabis craving. Future studies are suggested to include a measure of chronic stress, which may be more relevant than immediate acute stress in influencing decisions to use cannabis. However, the majority of participants in the current investigation indicating that the CanSIDE simulation felt realistic and familiar provides evidence for the use of the CanSIDE paradigm as a standardized and convenient proxy for real-world cannabis use situations.
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Details
- Title
- An experimental test of the effect of acute stress on behavioral willingness to use cannabis under laboratory conditions
- Creators
- Trevor James Levingston
- Contributors
- Benjamin Olson Ladd (Advisor) - Washington State University, Department of Psychology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Psychology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Identifiers
- 99900890794301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis