Race As a Moderator of the Association Between Coping and Enhancement Motives and Marijuana Use Among Young Adult Men

Introduction: Research has shown that coping and enhancement motives for substance use are associated with higher rates of substance use and related problems. Most of this research, however, has focused on alcohol use among samples of adolescents or college students. In addition, little research has investigated racial differences in these associations. This study extended prior research by focusing on marijuana use motives and frequency in a sample of black and white men. Specifically, we examined whether race moderated the association between marijuana use motives and frequency in young adulthood.

Methods: Data came from a sample of black and white male marijuana users who were interviewed at mean age 26 (N = 151) and again at mean age 29 (N = 128). The coping and enhancement subscales from the Marijuana Motives Questionnaire and past year frequency of marijuana use were assessed at both ages. T-tests and regression analyses were conducted.

Results: Black men, compared to white men, reported significantly higher coping motives at age 29, but race was not related to coping motives at age 26 or enhancement motives at either age. Black men, compared to white men, reported significantly greater frequency of marijuana use at both ages. Regression analyses indicated that at both ages coping and enhancement motives were significantly related to frequency of marijuana use. At age 29, the interactions of motives with race were significant, indicating that coping and enhancement motives were more strongly related to greater frequency of marijuana use for white than black men. Coping and enhancement motives at age 26 did not predict marijuana frequency at age 29 once marijuana frequency at age 26 was controlled.

Conclusions: It appears that using marijuana for coping and enhancement reasons is related to more frequent marijuana use in young adulthood. However, this association is stronger for white men than black men in late young adulthood. Interventions are needed to challenge both coping and enhancement marijuana motives throughout young adulthood.