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Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Perceived Behavioral Control Associated with Age of First Use of Cannabis among Adolescents
Author(s) -
Korn Liat,
Haynie Denise L.,
Luk Jeremy W.,
Sita Kellienne,
SimonsMorton Bruce G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12977
Subject(s) - cannabis , psychology , perceived control , clinical psychology , marijuana smoking , social norms approach , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , perception , substance use , neuroscience , polysubstance dependence
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Prevention of early age initiation of cannabis use is a national priority, highlighting the importance of identifying cannabis‐specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control in relation to initiation age. METHODS Data were from the NEXT Generation Health Study, a national longitudinal sample of US adolescents followed from 10th grade (N = 1850). Cannabis‐specific attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control were assessed at 10th grade. Age of first use was reported retrospectively 2‐3 years after high‐school and participants were categorized as early initiators (<14 years; 3.8%), high‐school (HS) initiators (14‐18 years; 35.6%), post‐HS initiators (>18 years; 8.3%), or never users (52.3%). RESULTS Relative to never users, early initiators were more likely to endorse pro‐use attitudes (AOR [adjusted odds ratio] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27‐4.50), less disapproving parental attitudes toward use (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.45‐4.28), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.21‐6.60), and higher ease of access (AOR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.14‐3.87); HS initiators were similarly more likely to report less disapproving attitudes toward use (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.25‐1.91), higher cannabis use among friends (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI = 2.18‐3.65), and higher ease of access (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.21‐2.28). CONCLUSIONS Earlier cannabis initiation was associated with more favorable cannabis attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, highlight these variables as potential intervention targets.