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Acquired preparedness model for marijuana use: A study based on a sample of Argentinian college students Abstract: The present study analyzed, in a sample of Argentinian college students, the mediational role of marijuana expectancies in the relationship between impulsivity, frequency of marijuana use and related negative consequences. A sample of 353 college students (M age= 22.32; SD = 2.81) who had been using marijuana during the last year participated in the study. We assessed trait-like impulsivity (UPPS-P scale), marijuana expectancies (positive and negative), frequency of marijuana use during the last year and experienced negative consequences. Results support the acquired preparedness model. Positive marijuana expectancies mediated the effect of sensation seeking on frequency of marijuana use and negative consequences. Additionally, a higher level of positive urgency was associated with a higher number of negative marijuana expectancies that in turn was associated with a lower frequency of use and, like that, a lower number of negative consequences. The results may be useful for the development of preventive strategies targeting college students with increased levels of impulsivity and marijuana expectancies. Keywords: Acquired preparedness model; marijuana; expectancies; impulsivity; college students. Resumen: Este trabajo examinó, en estudiantes universitarios argentinos, el rol mediador de las expectativas hacia la marihuana (EM) en la relación entre impulsividad, frecuencia de consumo de marihuana y consecuencias negativas asociadas. Participaron 353 universitarios (M de edad = 22.32; DT = 2.81) con consumo de marihuana en el último año. Se evaluó impulsividad rasgo (escala UPPS-P), EM (positivas y negativas), frecuencia de consumo de marihuana durante el último año y consecuencias negativas experimentadas. Los resultados apoyan el modelo de predisposición adquirida. Las EM positivas mediaron el efecto de búsqueda de sensaciones sobre la frecuencia de consumo de marihuana y las consecuencias negativas. Además, un mayor nivel de urgencia positiva se asoció a mayor cantidad de EM negativas que, a su vez, se asoció a menor frecuencia de consumo y, por esa vía, a menor cantidad de consecuencias negativas. Los resultados pueden ser útiles para estrategias preventivas destinadas a universitarios con elevados niveles de impulsividad y EM. Palabras clave: modelo de predisposición adquirida; marihuana; expectativas; impulsividad; estudiantes universitarios.

Fil: Paternó Manavella, María Agustina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Observatorio de la Deuda Social Argentina; Argentina Fil: Rivarola Montejano, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina Fil: Rivarola Montejano, Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Michelini, Yanina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina Fil: Michelini, Yanina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Rodríguez Espínola, Solange Sylvia. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Observatorio de la Deuda Social Argentina; Argentina Fil: Pilatti, Angelina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina Fil: Pilatti, Angelina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Resumen: Introducción: durante la adolescencia se observan altas tasas de consumo elevado de alcohol. El Modelo de Predisposición Adquirida (mpa) postula que la confluencia de factores de personalidad (como la impulsividad) y factores psicosociales (como las expectativas hacia el alcohol [ea]) predice el consumo de sustancias. Algunos resultados previos respaldan el mpa para explicar el uso de alcohol en adolescentes argentinos; sin embargo, no queda claro el modo en que distintas dimensiones de impulsividad se asocian con el uso de alcohol en esta etapa del desarrollo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue examinar, en una muestra de adolescentes argentinos, el rol mediador de las ea en la relación entre cinco dimensiones de impulsividad rasgo, medidas con la escala upps-p y la frecuencia de Consumo Episódico Elevado de Alcohol (ceea). Materiales y métodos: participaron 427 adolescentes de 13 a 18 años (58 % mujeres; M edad = 15.72, de = 1.48), escolarizados en el nivel medio (91.1 % en gestión privada). Resultados: apoyando el mpa, la tendencia a actuar precipitadamente bajo estados emocionales intensos (tanto positivos como negativos) se asoció a una mayor frecuencia de ceea vía una mayor anticipación de efectos positivos del consumo de alcohol. Urgencia positiva tuvo, además, un efecto directo sobre la frecuencia de ceea. Conclusiones: esta información puede ser de utilidad para el desarrollo de intervenciones destinadas a disminuir el desarrollo o mantenimiento de ea positivas y, de esta manera, reducir el consumo de alcohol en los adolescentes. Abstract: Introduction: High rates of heavy alcohol use are observed among adolescents. The Acquired Preparedness Model (apm) posits that the confluence of personality factors (e.g., impulsivity) and psychosocial factors (e.g., alcohol expectancies [aes]) predicts substance use. Research supports the use of the apm to explain alcohol use in Argentinean adolescents; however, how different dimensions of impulsivity are associated with alcohol use at this developmental stage is unclear. This study was designed to examine the mediational role of aes in the relationship between multiple dimensions of trait-like impulsivity using the upps-p scale and the frequency of heavy episodic drinking (hed) in Argentinean adolescents. Materials and Methods: In this study, 427 adolescents (58% were women) with a mean age of 15.72 ± 1.48 years (range, 13–18 years) were enrolled. Results: In line with the associations proposed by the apm, this study showed that the tendency to act rashly under intense negative and positive emotions was positively associated with the frequency of hed, via the anticipation of more positive effects of alcohol use. Positive urgency also had a direct effect on the frequency of hed. This information may be useful in developing interventions to reduce positive aes to decrease adolescent alcohol use. Resumo: Introdução: na adolescência observam-se altas taxas de consumo de álcool. O Modelo de Predisposição Adquirida (mpa) postula que a confluência de fatores de personalidade (como a impulsividade) e fatores psicossociais (como expectativas em relação ao álcool [ea]) prediz o uso de substâncias. Alguns resultados anteriores corroboram o mpa para explicar o consumo de álcool em adolescentes argentinos; no entanto, não está claro como as diferentes dimensões da impulsividade estão associadas ao consumo de álcool nesta fase do desenvolvimento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar, em uma amostra de adolescentes argentinos, o papel mediador da ea na relação entre cinco dimensões do traço de impulsividade, medidas com a escala upps-p e a frequência de Consumo Episódico Elevado de Álcool (ceea). Materiais e métodos: participaram 427 adolescentes de 13 a 18 anos (58% mulheres; M idade = 15,72; dp = 1,48), matriculados no ensino médio (91,1% em escola particular). Resultados: apoiando o mpa, mostra-se que a tendência a agir precipitadamente sob estados emocionais intensos —tanto positivos quanto negativos— foi associada a uma maior frequência de ceea por meio de uma maior antecipação dos efeitos positivos do consumo de álcool. A urgência positiva também teve efeito direto na frequência de ceea. Conclusões: esta informação pode ser útil para o desenvolvimento de intervenções que visem reduzir o desenvolvimento ou manutenção de ea positivas e, desta forma, reduzir o consumo de álcool em adolescentes.

Background: The Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire [MACQ] assesses marijuana-related problems. This 8-factor (50-items) measure covers a broad array of multiple dimensions encompassing 50 negative consequences of gradient severity that are particularly relevant in the context of college. The present study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the 50-item Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (S-MACQ) by analyzing the psychometric properties of internal, convergent, and concurrent validity and estimating internal consistency. We also examined the correlation between the brief (SB-MACQ) and the full S-MACQ and whether they similarly correlate with marijuana outcomes and marijuana-related variables. Method: College students from the two largest public universities of Cordoba city (Argentina) completed an online survey as part of a broader study focused on marijuana use and risky sexual behaviors. Only data from students that reported last-year marijuana use (n=470; 70.6% women; Mean age 22.67±3.52 years; 45.7% enrolled in psychology) were included in the study. We conducted independent samples t-tests to evaluate differences in the number of negative consequences (for the total scale and for each S-MACQ dimension) as a function of biological sex or frequency of use. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) was conducted to examine the factor structure of the S-MACQ. We conducted Pearson correlation analyses to examine the association between the number of marijuana-related consequences as measured by the S-MACQ and scores (a) in the CUDIT, a standardized measure of marijuana-related problems (i.e., convergent validity), (b) frequency and quantity of marijuana use (i.e., concurrent validity), (c) motives for marijuana use (i.e., concurrent validity). We examined the Pearson correlation between the SB-MACQ and the S-MACQ and then we estimated the difference between the Pearson correlation of the SB-MACQ and the S-MACQ with all the marijuana outcomes and marijuana-related variables. Results: Results from the CFA supported an 8-factor structure. The scores of the S-MACQ showed appropriate internal, concurrent and convergent validity, alongside with adequate internal consistency. The S-MACQ was largely correlated with the SB-MACQ and the correlations between these two versions and marijuana outcomes/marijuana-related variables did not significantly differ. Discussion: Findings supported the S-MACQ as a valid measure to assess marijuana-related problems in Spanish-speaking students. The instrument can be used to identify a broad diversity of marijuana problems in this population.

Background: Substance use and the association between substance-related variables and outcomes seem to be context dependent. We employed Latent Class Analysis (LCA), a person-centered approach, to identify distinct subpopulations based on contexts of marijuana use. We also examined whether the resulting classes differ in a set of marijuana-related variables that hold promise as potential targets of interventions. Method: A sample of 1083 Argentinean college students (64% women; M age = 19.73±3.95) completed an online survey that assessed substance use and related variables (motives for substance use, protective behavioral strategies [PBS] and internalization of the college marijuana use culture). For the present study, only data from students that reported last month (i.e., past 30-day) marijuana use (n = 158) were included in the analysis. Participants reported whether or not they used marijuana in different places (i.e., own house, party at home, friends’ house, parties at friends' house, university party, non-university party, bar, dance-club, outside [street, park], or pregaming) or social contexts (i.e., alone, with family members, strangers, boyfriend/girlfriend, close friend, small group of same-sex friends, ≥10 same-sex friends, small co-ed group of friends, ≥10 co-ed friends). Results: LCA identified a 2-classes model for marijuana use context. Class 1 comprised 40% of last-month marijuana users. Students within this class endorsed a high probability of consuming marijuana across different places (e.g., at home, at parties, outdoors) and social contexts (e.g., close friend and in small same sex and coed groups). Participants in Class 2 exhibited a low endorsement of marijuana use across contexts, yet they reported a moderate to high probability of using marijuana with a small group of same-sex friends or with the close friend, at a friend’s home. The two classes significantly differed, as shown by Student’s t, on all marijuana outcomes (i.e., use and negative consequences) and marijuana-related variables (motives, PBS and internalization of the college marijuana use culture). Students in class 2 exhibited significantly less marijuana use, both in terms of frequency and quantity, and less marijuana-related negative consequences than those in class 1. The latter class exhibited more normative perceptions about marijuana use in college, more marijuana use motives -particularly social, coping and expansion motives- and less use of PBS than students in class 2 did. Conclusions: Our findings revealed subpopulations of college students that are heterogeneous regarding contexts of marijuana use, patterns of use and in a number of relevant variables. These distinctive subpopulations require different targeted interventions.

En este trabajo analizamos, separadamente para hombres y mujeres, la relación entre impulsividad y consumo de alcohol. Clasificamos a los participantes en tres clases de consumo de alcohol y examinamos diferencias en impulsividad rasgo entre las clases. Participaron 435 jóvenes que completaron una encuesta online. A nivel bivariante, la relación entre los distintos indicadores de consumo de alcohol no fue la misma con todas las dimensiones de la UPPS-P. En general, el perfil de asociación entre las variables fue similar en hombres y en mujeres. A nivel multivariante, se destaca la asociación de urgencia negativa (β entre .24 y .34) y urgencia positiva (β entre .15 y .28) sobre el consumo de alcohol y los problemas asociados. Las clases mostraron diferencias en el perfil de impulsividad subyacente entre las mujeres. Las mujeres con consumo de riesgo son más impulsivas que sus pares con menor consumo en las cinco dimensiones de la UPPS-P., This work analyzed, separately in women and men, the relationship between impulsivity and alcohol consumption. We classified participants in three classes of alcohol consumption. We subsequently assessed differences in trait impulsivity between these classes. Four-hundred and thirty five participants completed an online survey. The different indicators of alcohol consumption exhibited a differential association with the impulsivity dimensions of the UPPS-P model. This pattern was similar in men and women. A multiple regression approach revealed a significant contribution of negative (β between .24 and .34) and positive urgency (β between .15 and .28) upon alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. The three classes of alcohol consumption exhibited differences in impulsivity, in women but not in men. Women exhibiting risky consumption had significantly greater impulsivity than low-consumer women did in the five dimensions of UPPS-P.