Combining Counseling With Ecological Momentary Assessment Increased Mindfulness and Reduced Cannabis Desire in Frequent Young Users
Among 68 young cannabis users aged 15-24, motivational counseling combined with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) increased mindful attention at 3-month follow-up, and higher momentary mindfulness was associated with lower cannabis desire and negative affect.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Momentary mindful awareness (MAA) increased from baseline to follow-up in the counseling + EMA group (beta=0.237) but not in counseling alone. Higher momentary MAA was associated with lower negative affect (beta=-0.526) and cannabis desire (beta=-0.521) but not positive affect.
Key Numbers
N=68 participants, 1,971 EMA reports. MAA increase with MET+EMA: beta=0.237. MAA-negative affect: beta=-0.526. MAA-cannabis desire: beta=-0.521. Age range: 15-24.
How They Did This
Randomized trial of outpatients aged 15-24 using cannabis 3+ times/week, assigned to MET counseling with/without EMA follow-up. 1,971 EMA reports from 68 participants analyzed. Momentary mindfulness, affect, and cannabis desire assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up.
Why This Research Matters
This suggests that the act of regularly checking in on one's own mental state (EMA) may itself be therapeutic by increasing mindful awareness. The strong inverse associations between mindfulness and cannabis desire point to mindfulness as a treatment target.
The Bigger Picture
Ecological momentary assessment is usually seen as a research tool, but this study suggests it may also be an intervention. Simply prompting people to notice their current state may build the mindfulness skills that reduce craving.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small sample. Cannot distinguish EMA effect from additional contact/attention. Associations between MAA and desire are correlational within persons. 3-month follow-up is relatively short. Not all participants used cannabis for the same reasons.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would a mindfulness-focused smartphone app replicate the EMA mindfulness-building effect?
- ?Does the mindfulness-desire association translate to actual reductions in cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Higher momentary mindfulness was linked to 52% lower cannabis desire
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized trial with ecological momentary assessment. Modest sample but strong within-person associations.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2023.
- Original Title:
- Associations of Momentary Mindfulness With Affect and Cannabis Desire in a Trial of Cannabis Use Interventions With and Without Momentary Assessment.
- Published In:
- The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 72(1), 126-129 (2023)
- Authors:
- Shrier, Lydia A(8), Harris, Sion Kim(5)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04936
Evidence Hierarchy
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups to test cause and effect.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can mindfulness help with cannabis cravings?
In this study of young cannabis users, higher momentary mindful awareness was associated with lower cannabis desire. Adding self-monitoring (EMA) to counseling increased mindfulness at 3-month follow-up.
Does tracking your mood reduce cannabis use?
Regular ecological momentary assessment (checking in on thoughts and feelings throughout the day) increased mindful awareness, which was in turn associated with lower cannabis desire and negative mood.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04936APA
Shrier, Lydia A; Harris, Sion Kim. (2023). Associations of Momentary Mindfulness With Affect and Cannabis Desire in a Trial of Cannabis Use Interventions With and Without Momentary Assessment.. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 72(1), 126-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.002
MLA
Shrier, Lydia A, et al. "Associations of Momentary Mindfulness With Affect and Cannabis Desire in a Trial of Cannabis Use Interventions With and Without Momentary Assessment.." The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.09.002
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Associations of Momentary Mindfulness With Affect and Cannab..." RTHC-04936. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/shrier-2023-associations-of-momentary-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.