Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Newberger, Noam G.
• Hinds, Zig
• Mahoney, Colin T.
• Bryant, William T.
• Herbitter, Cara
• Livingston, Nicholas A.
• Witkiewitz, Katie

Titel

Real-Time Associations Between Discrimination, Cannabis Use, and Mood Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals

Ist Teil von

• Psychology of addictive behaviors, 2022-08, Vol.36 (5), p.491-498

Ort / Verlag

United States: American Psychological Association

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

Applied Social Sciences Index & Abstracts (ASSIA)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals experience high rates of discrimination, which is associated with increased cannabis use. Studies have also linked daily SGM discrimination to event-based mood states, but none have examined the degree to which cannabis buffers or potentially exacerbates mood in response to discrimination in real time. Method: Fifty SGM individuals participated in a 2-week ecological momentary assessment study. Participants completed a baseline assessment and then received six daily prompts assessing SGM discrimination, cannabis use, and current mood. We investigated the immediate associations between SGM discrimination and mood, and how cannabis use differentially moderated these associations. Results: SGM discrimination was associated with increased negative mood and decreased positive mood. Among those who experienced discrimination, individuals who used cannabis reported feeling less anxious and depressed, and happier and more relaxed, in the 2 hr following an SGM discrimination experience compared to those that did not use cannabis. Conclusions: These findings uncover some of the acute within-day effects of both daily SGM discrimination and cannabis use on mood. These findings build on the current understanding of minority stress, in real time, and suggest avenues for prevention, and intervention efforts to offset risk for psychological distress and cannabis use among SGM individuals who experience minority stress. Public Health Significance Statement This study suggests that among sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, cannabis use is associated with feeling less depressed and anxious, and more happy and relaxed, immediately following daily discrimination experiences. These findings highlight the importance of continued research on the momentary effects of minority stress and cannabis use among SGM individuals, and how technology can be implemented in the effort of real-time assessment and intervention.