Choosing to Use: Risk Perception and Social Approval of Marijuana Use in Northern Kentucky Adolescents
Start Date
29-4-2022 3:45 PM
Location
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 3rd floor
Abstract
The use of marijuana has increased, particularly for youth. Research indicates that routine marijuana usage may be harmful. The legalization of marijuana has accelerated this process by decreasing the public's perception of the risk associated with use. The current study utilized data from the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey (KIP), a youth risk behavior survey administered bi-annually by the state of Kentucky to sixth through twelfth graders. Data from eight northern Kentucky counties was used in this study. The aim of the current study was to investigate which age group is most likely to begin using marijuana and continue using on a regular basis. Associated risk factors such as risk perception, parental approval, and peer approval of using marijuana were analyzed as well. We found that older students and students who perceived less risk associated with regular marijuana use were more likely to have used marijuana in the past month. Students who reported lower parental approval of marijuana use were more likely to have used over the past month. Conversely, students who reported higher peer approval of marijuana use were more likely to have used over the past month. These results suggest that decreased risk perception, in conjunction with high peer approval and low parental approval, is associated with increased marijuana usage in adolescents as young as the sixth grade. This may suggest that prevention efforts should begin prior to middle school in order to be most effective.
Choosing to Use: Risk Perception and Social Approval of Marijuana Use in Northern Kentucky Adolescents
Alter Hall Poster Session 2 - 3rd floor
The use of marijuana has increased, particularly for youth. Research indicates that routine marijuana usage may be harmful. The legalization of marijuana has accelerated this process by decreasing the public's perception of the risk associated with use. The current study utilized data from the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey (KIP), a youth risk behavior survey administered bi-annually by the state of Kentucky to sixth through twelfth graders. Data from eight northern Kentucky counties was used in this study. The aim of the current study was to investigate which age group is most likely to begin using marijuana and continue using on a regular basis. Associated risk factors such as risk perception, parental approval, and peer approval of using marijuana were analyzed as well. We found that older students and students who perceived less risk associated with regular marijuana use were more likely to have used marijuana in the past month. Students who reported lower parental approval of marijuana use were more likely to have used over the past month. Conversely, students who reported higher peer approval of marijuana use were more likely to have used over the past month. These results suggest that decreased risk perception, in conjunction with high peer approval and low parental approval, is associated with increased marijuana usage in adolescents as young as the sixth grade. This may suggest that prevention efforts should begin prior to middle school in order to be most effective.
