Low risk perception and high accessibility predicted cannabis use among Spanish teens
Among 35,369 Spanish adolescents, lower perceived risk of cannabis and higher perceived accessibility mediated the relationship between demographic factors and past-30-day cannabis use.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Male sex, older age, and past-30-day tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use were associated with cannabis use. Cannabis risk perception and perceived accessibility mediated most of these relationships. Lower frequency of reading was a risk factor for cannabis use.
Key Numbers
35,369 adolescents. Male sex, older age, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use predicted cannabis use. Risk perception and accessibility mediated most pathways. Reading frequency was a protective factor.
How They Did This
Analysis of Spain's 2016 National Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Education (ESTUDES) with 35,369 adolescents (50.1% female). Structural equation modeling identified predictors and tested mediation through cannabis risk perception and accessibility.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding that risk perception and accessibility are modifiable mediators of cannabis use suggests concrete targets for prevention programs.
The Bigger Picture
Prevention programs that shift risk perception and reduce perceived accessibility may be more effective than those targeting demographic factors that cannot be changed.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causal direction. Self-reported data. Spanish context may not generalize. Risk perception may be a consequence rather than cause of use.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would prevention programs targeting risk perception and accessibility reduce cannabis initiation?
- ?Does reading frequency reflect a broader protective lifestyle factor?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Risk perception and accessibility mediated most pathways to cannabis use
- Evidence Grade:
- Very large national sample with sophisticated modeling, though cross-sectional design limits causal claims.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022 using 2016 survey data.
- Original Title:
- Effects of Risk Perception and Accessibility on Cannabis Use among Young Population in Spain: Findings from the 2016 National Survey (ESTUDES).
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 57(1), 36-46 (2022)
- Authors:
- González-Roz, Alba(5), Aonso-Diego, Gema, Martínez-Loredo, Víctor(3), Cuesta, Marcelino, Secades-Villa, Roberto
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03880
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What predicted cannabis use among Spanish teens?
Being male, older age, and using tobacco, alcohol, or other illicit substances. These effects were largely mediated through lower risk perception and higher perceived accessibility to cannabis.
Was reading protective against cannabis use?
Yes. Higher frequency of reading was associated with lower cannabis use, possibly reflecting a broader pattern of engagement in substance-free activities.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03880APA
González-Roz, Alba; Aonso-Diego, Gema; Martínez-Loredo, Víctor; Cuesta, Marcelino; Secades-Villa, Roberto. (2022). Effects of Risk Perception and Accessibility on Cannabis Use among Young Population in Spain: Findings from the 2016 National Survey (ESTUDES).. Substance use & misuse, 57(1), 36-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1981387
MLA
González-Roz, Alba, et al. "Effects of Risk Perception and Accessibility on Cannabis Use among Young Population in Spain: Findings from the 2016 National Survey (ESTUDES).." Substance use & misuse, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1981387
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Effects of Risk Perception and Accessibility on Cannabis Use..." RTHC-03880. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/gonzalez-roz-2022-effects-of-risk-perception
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.