Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity and Marijuana Use Coping Motives: A Test of the Mediating Role of Non-Judgmental Acceptance within a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample

Abstract

We examined the role of non-judgmental acceptance in the relation between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and marijuana use coping motives. These relations were examined among 97 (46 women) adults (M age = 21.57 years, SD=6.32) who met DSM-

The moderating role of experiential avoidance in the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity and cannabis dependence

“…Findings from this study suggest that problematic cannabis use may at least partially serve an EA function in the current sample, consistent with past findings linking increased coping (i.e., avoidance) motives for cannabis use to both difficulties in emotion regulation and difficulties in adopting a non-judgmental stance toward experiences (Bonn-Miller et al, 2011; Bonn-Miller et al, 2010). Given that avoidance is also considered to be a core mechanism underlying the maintenance and negative outcomes associated with PTSD (Kashdan, Morina, & Priebe, 2009; Plumb, Orsillo, & Luterek, 2004; Tull, Gratz, Salters, & Roemer, 2004), treatment approaches that target acceptance of or a nonjudgmental stance towards unwanted internal experiences (e.g., Acceptance and Commitment Therapy [Hayes, Stroshal, & Wilson, 2012] or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction [Grossman, Niemann, Schmidt, & Walach, 2004]) may be effective in reducing problematic cannabis use in individuals with PTSD, as well as PTSD-related functional impairments.…”

“…Negative affect reduction has consistently been found to be a major motive for cannabis use among individuals with PTSD (Bonn-Miller et al, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2014). Findings from this study extend this literature by demonstrating that the tendency to avoid aversive internal experiences interacts with PTSD symptoms to increase the likelihood of cannabis dependence.…”

“…Existing literature suggests that cannabis use within the context of PTSD may function to ameliorate negative affect and other distress associated with PTSD symptoms (albeit at the longterm cost of continued experiencing and exacerbation of symptoms; see Boden, Babson, Vujanovic, Short, & Bonn-Miller, 2013; Bonn-Miller et al, 2007, 2010). This literature is consistent with both the negative reinforcement model of substance use (which proposes that the primary motive for substance use is the avoidance of or escape from emotional distress; Baker, Piper, McCarthy, Majeskie, & Fiore, 2004) and research suggesting that individuals with PTSD may use substances to regulate emotional distress (e.g., Tull, McDermott, Gratz, Coffey, & Lejuez, 2011; Waldrop et al, 2007).…”

“…This literature is consistent with both the negative reinforcement model of substance use (which proposes that the primary motive for substance use is the avoidance of or escape from emotional distress; Baker, Piper, McCarthy, Majeskie, & Fiore, 2004) and research suggesting that individuals with PTSD may use substances to regulate emotional distress (e.g., Tull, McDermott, Gratz, Coffey, & Lejuez, 2011; Waldrop et al, 2007). Cannabis use motives related to reducing negative affect (i.e., coping motives) have been found to be more common in individuals with (vs. without) PTSD (Boden et al, 2013; Bonn-Miller, Babson, & Vandrey, 2014) and positively associated with PTSD symptom severity among individuals exposed to a traumatic event (Bonn-Miller, Vujanovic, Boden, & Gross, 2011; Bonn-Miller et al, 2010). Moreover, higher levels of emotion regulation difficulties and lower levels of non-judgmental acceptance have been found to mediate the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and cannabis use coping motives (Bonn-Miller et al, 2011; Bonn-Miller et al, 2010).…”

“…Cannabis use motives related to reducing negative affect (i.e., coping motives) have been found to be more common in individuals with (vs. without) PTSD (Boden et al, 2013; Bonn-Miller, Babson, & Vandrey, 2014) and positively associated with PTSD symptom severity among individuals exposed to a traumatic event (Bonn-Miller, Vujanovic, Boden, & Gross, 2011; Bonn-Miller et al, 2010). Moreover, higher levels of emotion regulation difficulties and lower levels of non-judgmental acceptance have been found to mediate the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and cannabis use coping motives (Bonn-Miller et al, 2011; Bonn-Miller et al, 2010). …”