Anxiety sensitivity predicted cannabis problems (but not frequency) in Hispanic/Latine adults, with men driven by conformity and coping motives and women by conformity and expansion motives.
Clinicians serving Hispanic/Latine populations, substance use counselors, and anxiety researchers
What the researchers found
Among 520 Hispanic/Latine cannabis users, anxiety sensitivity predicted more cannabis problems via conformity motives for both sexes, but via coping motives for men and expansion motives for women — frequency was unaffected.
Why it matters
Hispanic/Latine adults experience worse cannabis-related problems but are underrepresented in research — understanding the anxiety-cannabis pathway in this population enables culturally targeted interventions.
The numbers in context
520 participants; 44.2% female; AS predicted problems but not frequency; indirect effects via conformity motives (both sexes), coping motives (men), expansion motives (women); sex didn't moderate direct AS-problems association.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional study of 520 Hispanic/Latine adults (44.2% female) with past-month cannabis use, examining anxiety sensitivity associations with cannabis problems, frequency, and motives, with sex as a moderator.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design; online recruitment may not represent all Hispanic/Latine cannabis users; self-report measures; heterogeneous Hispanic/Latine category may mask subgroup differences.
How to read the evidence
Adequately powered study in an underrepresented population with appropriate mediation analysis, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference.
When this study was published
Published in 2026 in APA's pharmacology journal, addressing health disparities in cannabis research.
The bigger picture
The finding that anxiety sensitivity affects cannabis problems through different motivational pathways for men and women suggests sex-specific intervention approaches may be more effective than one-size-fits-all programs.
Questions still open
- Would anxiety sensitivity-targeted interventions reduce cannabis problems in this population? How do cultural factors specific to different Hispanic/Latine subgroups influence the AS-cannabis relationship?
Common questions
Why do some people have more cannabis problems than others?
Do men and women use cannabis for different reasons?
Read the original research
Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis-related problems among Hispanic/Latine adults: The roles of sex and cannabis use motives.
Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 34(1), 100-105
Citation
Buckner, Julia D; Vargo, Luke A; Thomas, Katharine L; Buenrostro, Christopher M; Shepherd, Justin M; Zvolensky, Michael J. (2026). Anxiety sensitivity and cannabis-related problems among Hispanic/Latine adults: The roles of sex and cannabis use motives.. Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 34(1), 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000829
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