Mindfulness Skills Were Linked to Less Cannabis and Alcohol Use in Argentine College Students | Research

The takeaway

Higher trait mindfulness in Argentine college students was associated with less cannabis use and fewer negative consequences, working through reduced emotional distress and lower motivation to use cannabis for coping.

Counselors working with young cannabis users, mindfulness researchers, and Latin American substance use prevention programs.

Three mindfulness facets were associated with less cannabis use and fewer negative consequences

What the researchers found

Three mindfulness facets (describing, acting with awareness, non-judging) were associated with less cannabis quantity consumed and fewer negative consequences through a pathway of lower emotional psychopathology (depression/anxiety symptoms) and lower endorsement of using cannabis to cope. Similar patterns were found for alcohol.

Why it matters

This study extends mindfulness-substance use research to cannabis in a Latin American population. The finding that emotional distress and coping motives mediate the link suggests that mindfulness-based interventions could reduce cannabis use by improving emotional regulation rather than targeting cannabis directly.

The numbers in context

232 cannabis users analyzed; mean age 22.96; 66.2% women; three mindfulness facets significant: describing, acting with awareness, non-judging; pathway: mindfulness to emotional symptoms to coping motives to cannabis use

How the study worked

Cross-sectional study of 456 participants (alcohol model) and 232 participants (marijuana model) from Argentine college students (mean age 22.96, 66.2% women). Path models tested indirect effects of mindfulness facets on substance use through emotional psychopathology and coping motives.

What this study cannot tell us

Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality. Argentine college student sample may not generalize. Self-reported substance use and mindfulness. Cannabis use measurement was limited.

How to read the evidence

Cross-sectional with path modeling. Identifies plausible mechanisms but cannot prove causation.

When this study was published

Published in 2024.

The bigger picture

Mindfulness-based interventions are increasingly used in substance use treatment but rarely for cannabis specifically. This study provides a mechanistic rationale for why mindfulness might help and identifies which specific mindfulness skills matter most.

Questions still open

Would mindfulness-based interventions reduce cannabis use in controlled trials?
Do the same mindfulness facets predict cannabis outcomes across different cultures?

Common questions

Can mindfulness reduce cannabis use?

This study found that people with higher mindfulness skills used less cannabis, apparently because they had less emotional distress and were less likely to use cannabis to cope. But the study cannot prove mindfulness training would reduce use.

Which mindfulness skills mattered most?

Describing inner experiences, acting with awareness, and non-judging of inner experience were all linked to less cannabis use and fewer negative consequences.

Read the original research

The Association Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use via Emotional Psychopathology and Coping Motives in Argentinian College Students.

Substance use & misuse, 59(12), 1731-1742

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Pilatti, Angelina; Correa, Pablo; Michelini, Yanina; Bravo, Adrian J; Pacini, Gianpiero; Pautassi, Ricardo M. (2024). The Association Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use via Emotional Psychopathology and Coping Motives in Argentinian College Students.. Substance use & misuse, 59(12), 1731-1742. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2024.2370026