Mediating Effects of Global Negative Effect Expectancies on the Association between Problematic Cannabis Use and Social Anxiety

The relationship between social anxiety (SA) and cannabis use among adolescents andyoung adults is a highly debated topic. In this cross-sectional study, we tested whethercannabis use expectancies mediated the association between SA and cannabis useseverity in a sample of 343 young adults (74.3% male) who used cannabis. They completedself-report measures for the screening of problematic cannabis use (CannabisUse Problems Identification Test) and SA symptoms (Social Interaction Anxiety Scale andSocial Phobia Scale). A multiple mediation analysis was used to test whether marijuanaeffect expectancies mediate SA effect on problematic cannabis use. SA was negativelyassociated with cannabis use severity in this sample, and we found evidence thatcannabis use expectancies fully mediated this relationship. Specifically, global negativeeffect expectancies influence the relationship between SA and problematic cannabisuse. These findings may inform current prevention strategies and clinical intervention foryoung adults who use cannabis.