A recent study suggests that nearly 25% of students report past 30-day cannabis use and almost 6% report daily use. Cannabis use in college students correlates with poorer academic performance and increased mental health problems. Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD) have been linked to trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress (PTS), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Preexisting literature has indicated that PTS severity is associated with cannabis use frequency. Most trauma-exposed college students do not meet PTSD criteria, but 30-35% experience PTS symptoms, which puts them at an increased risk for drug use. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that Reward Probability Index-Reward Probability (RPI-RP) and Environmental Suppression (RPI-ES) would mediate the relationship between PTS and cannabis misuse among a sample of trauma-exposed college students.
RPI-RP measures the ability to experience reward or enjoyment, while RPI-ES measures the availability of rewarding activities in one’s environment. This study consists of 404 undergraduate students. All participants completed online surveys between September 2019 and March 2020. Trauma exposure was measured with the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, where participants were asked to indicate the proximity of trauma. Posttraumatic Stress, Cannabis Use, Reward Probability, and demographics were all measured.
The results of this study suggest that RPI-ES scores fully mediate the PTS-cannabis relationship. Environmental Suppression is known to play a big part in explaining why people partake in drug misuse. RPI-RP was not found to mediate the relationship between PTS and cannabis use. Overall, this study supports the use of the RPI-ES scale as a risk factor for both PTSD and cannabis use, as well as to investigate further treatment approaches that optimize non-substance regarding experiences in the treatment of those with PTS and substance misuse.
Key takeaway: RPI-ES scores fully mediate the PTS-cannabis relationship, and environmental Suppression is key in explaining why people partake in drug misuse