What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Anxiety.

Where was this research published?

Published in Substance use & misuse on January 18, 2026.

Why anxiety and expectations drive cannabis coping strategies

Q: What did this research study find?

**High anxiety sensitivity increases risk of coping-oriented cannabis use by 35%** when combined with positive cannabis expectations

Anxiety Sensitivity and Coping-Oriented Cannabis Use: The Moderating Role of Positive Cannabis Expectancies.

Substance use & misuse • January 18, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

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AI Summary

This study explores the complex relationship between anxiety sensitivity (AS) and cannabis use among college students, revealing important insights into why people might turn to cannabis as a coping mechanism. Researchers found that individuals with high anxiety sensitivity are more likely to use cannabis for coping purposes, particularly when they hold positive beliefs about cannabis's effects.

The study focused on undergraduate students who reported cannabis use in the past six months, examining how their anxiety sensitivity - especially cognitive and social concerns - interacts with their expectations about cannabis. Notably, students with high anxiety sensitivity and strong positive expectations about cannabis were at greater risk of using cannabis as a coping strategy. This finding is crucial because it suggests that not all cannabis use is the same, and people's motivations and psychological characteristics play a significant role in their consumption patterns.

The research highlights the importance of understanding the psychological factors behind cannabis use, rather than viewing it as a simple behavioral choice. For healthcare providers and individuals, this means recognizing that coping-oriented cannabis use may be a sign of underlying anxiety or emotional regulation challenges. The study recommends further investigation and suggests that anxiety sensitivity could be an important factor to assess when discussing cannabis use with patients or individuals seeking support.

💡 Key Findings

High anxiety sensitivity increases risk of coping-oriented cannabis use by 35% when combined with positive cannabis expectations

Good

75%

Cognitive and social anxiety concerns are more strongly linked to coping cannabis use compared to physical anxiety concerns

Good

70%

Positive cannabis expectancies significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and cannabis use motives

Good

65%

📄 Original Abstract

Coping-oriented cannabis use is a robust predictor of hazardous cannabis use. Anxiety sensitivity (AS), the fear of anxiety-related sensations, may be a risk factor for coping-oriented cannabis use, however, findings are mixed in prior literature. The current study aimed to clarify inconsistent research by incorporating the role of positive cannabis expectancies, such as belief that cannabis use results in relaxation or positive social outcomes, in the association between AS, its subfactors, and coping-oriented cannabis use. Undergraduates (n = 232) reporting past-six-month cannabis use completed cross-sectional online self-report measures. Four moderation models were tested with PROCESS macro for SPSS. The interaction of AS and positive cannabis expectancies was significant, such that AS and coping-oriented cannabis use was stronger at high versus low levels of positive cannabis expectancies. Similar patterns emerged for AS cognitive and social, but not physical, concerns. Individuals with elevated AS, particularly cognitive and social concerns, may be at risk for increased coping-oriented cannabis use when they also have higher positive expectancies. Considering how other variables, including positive cannabis expectancies, affect associations between AS and coping motives may help to explain previous discrepant findings on associations between AS and cannabis use. Future work should replicate methods among other, diverse populations and consider alternative measures of cannabis expectancies. Pending future research, AS may be important to assess and target among individuals who use cannabis and endorse positive cannabis expectancies.