Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to Predict Patterns of Marijuana Use among Young Iranian Adults

Farzad Jalilian, Mehdi Mirzaei-Alavijeh, Mohammad Ahmadpanah, Shayan Mostafaei, Mehdi Kargar, Razieh Pirouzeh, Dena Sadeghi Bahmani and Serge Brand
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Farzad Jalilian: Lifestyle Modification Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851351, Iran
Mehdi Mirzaei-Alavijeh: Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851351, Iran
Mohammad Ahmadpanah: Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 6719851351, Iran
Shayan Mostafaei: Medical Biology Research Center Research, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851351, Iran
Mehdi Kargar: Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134814336, Iran
Razieh Pirouzeh: Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah 6719851351, Iran
Dena Sadeghi Bahmani: Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress und Sleep Disorders, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Serge Brand: Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress und Sleep Disorders, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: Background : Marijuana use is increasing among adolescents and young adults. Long-term marijuana use magnifies the risk of a wide variety of behavioral, cognitive-emotional, and neurological problems, and can be a gateway to use of other drugs. In the present study, we investigated the cognitive-emotional and behavioral predictors of marijuana use. To this end, young Iranian adults answered questions based on an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and related it to marijuana use. We hypothesized that cognitive-emotional and behavioral factors would predict intention to use marijuana, and that this, in turn, would predict actual consumption. Methods : A total of 166 young Iranian adults (mean age: 20.51 years; 15.7% females) attending a walk-in center for drug use took part in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, frequency of marijuana use per week, along with questionnaires assessing the following dimensions of the TPB: attitude towards marijuana use, subjective norms, self-efficacy to resist marijuana use, environmental constraints, problem-solving skills, and behavioral intention for marijuana use. Results : Mean marijuana use was found to be 4.6 times/week. Attitude towards marijuana use, subjective norms, environmental constraints, and behavioral intention to use marijuana were positively correlated to each other and with marijuana use/week. In contrast, higher self-efficacy and problem-solving skills were associated with lower marijuana use/week. The multiple regression analysis showed that a positive attitude to marijuana use, lower self-efficacy in resisting its use, higher behavioral intention, and poorer problem-solving skills predicted actual use. Conclusion : The pattern of results suggests that dimensions of TPB can explain marijuana use among young Iranian adults self-admitted to a walk-in center for drug use. Specifically, poor problem-solving skills, low self-efficacy in resisting marijuana use, and positive labelling of its use appeared to be the best predictors of actual use. It follows that prevention programs aimed at improving problem-solving skills and raising self-efficacy, along with educational interventions aimed at highlighting the negative effects of marijuana might decrease the risk of its use among young adults in Iran.

Keywords: marijuana use; theory of planned behavior; young adults; problem-solving skills; self-efficacy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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