Mindfulness Skills Were Linked to Less Cannabis and Alcohol Use in Argentine College Students
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would mindfulness-based interventions reduce cannabis use in controlled trials?
- ?Do the same mindfulness facets predict cannabis outcomes across different cultures?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Three mindfulness facets were associated with less cannabis use and fewer negative consequences
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional with path modeling. Identifies plausible mechanisms but cannot prove causation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024.
- Original Title:
- The Association Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use via Emotional Psychopathology and Coping Motives in Argentinian College Students.
- Published In:
- Substance use & misuse, 59(12), 1731-1742 (2024)
- Authors:
- Pilatti, Angelina(4), Correa, Pablo, Michelini, Yanina(4), Bravo, Adrian J, Pacini, Gianpiero, Pautassi, Ricardo M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05627
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05627APA
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
MLA
Pilatti, Angelina, et al. "The Association Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use via Emotional Psychopathology and Coping Motives in Argentinian College Students.." Substance use & misuse, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2024.2370026
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Association Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use..." RTHC-05627. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/pilatti-2024-the-association-between-mindfulness
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.