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The relationship between cannabis outcome expectancies and cannabis refusal self‐efficacy in a treatment population
Author(s) -
Connor Jason P.,
Gullo Matthew J.,
Feeney Gerald F. X.,
Kavanagh David J.,
Young Ross McD.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/add.12366
Subject(s) - cannabis , expectancy theory , psychology , psychiatry , self efficacy , cannabis dependence , clinical psychology , social cognitive theory , population , medicine , developmental psychology , social psychology , environmental health , cannabidiol
Background and aims Self‐efficacy beliefs and outcome expectancies are central to S ocial C ognitive T heory ( SCT ). Alcohol studies demonstrate the theoretical and clinical utility of applying both SCT constructs. This study examined the relationship between refusal self‐efficacy and outcome expectancies in a sample of cannabis users, and tested formal mediational models. Design Patients referred for cannabis treatment completed a comprehensive clinical assessment, including recently validated cannabis expectancy and refusal self‐efficacy scales. Setting A hospital alcohol and drug out‐patient clinic. Participants Patients referred for a cannabis treatment [ n = 1115, mean age 26.29, standard deviation ( SD) 9.39]. Measurements The C annabis E xpectancy Q uestionnaire ( CEQ ) and C annabis R efusal S elf‐ E fficacy Q uestionnaire ( CRSEQ ) were completed, along with measures of cannabis severity [ S everity of D ependence S cale ( SDS )] and cannabis consumption. Findings Positive (β = −0.29, P < 0.001) and negative (β = −0.19, P < 0.001) cannabis outcome expectancies were associated significantly with refusal self‐efficacy. Refusal self‐efficacy, in turn, fully mediated the association between negative expectancy and weekly consumption [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.17] and partially mediated the effect of positive expectancy on weekly consumption (95% CI = 0.06, 0.17). Conclusions C onsistent with S ocial C ognitive T heory, refusal self‐efficacy (a person's belief that he or she can abstain from cannabis use) mediates part of the association between cannabis outcome expectancies (perceived consequences of cannabis use) and cannabis use.