Athletes' attitudes about cannabis shaped whether their knowledge translated into use | Research

The takeaway

In a survey of 1,161 active adult athletes, attitudes about cannabis mediated the relationship between cannabis knowledge and use, with "liberal" attitude athletes showing more knowledge and greater likelihood of current use.

Sports medicine physicians, athletic trainers, and public health professionals designing cannabis education for athletes.

Attitudes mediated the cannabis knowledge-to-use pathway in athletes

What the researchers found

Three attitude clusters emerged: Conservative (32.2%), Unsure (45.9%), and Liberal (21.9%). Attitudes significantly mediated the knowledge-to-use pathway. Liberal-attitude athletes answered knowledge questions correctly most often and were more likely to be current users. Among current users, liberal athletes tended to co-use THC and CBD and had used cannabis longer.

Why it matters

Understanding how knowledge and attitudes interact to influence cannabis behavior in athletes can help design more effective education programs, particularly as cannabis becomes available for pain management and recovery.

The numbers in context

1,161 athletes. Three clusters: Conservative 32.2%, Unsure 45.9%, Liberal 21.9%. Attitude clusters differed by age (p<0.001), primary sport (p<0.05), and knowledge (p<0.001). Cannabis use: Never 32.4%, Past 41.6%, Current 26.0%.

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey (PEACE Survey) of 1,161 self-defined active adult athletes recruited via social media and email. Knowledge (4 questions), attitudes (11 questions with TwoStep Cluster analysis), and cannabis use assessed. Mediation analysis tested the knowledge-attitudes-behavior model.

What this study cannot tell us

Self-selected sample of athletes recruited through social media. Self-defined "active athlete" is subjective. Cross-sectional design cannot determine temporal ordering of knowledge, attitudes, and use. Social desirability may bias responses.

How to read the evidence

Large survey with appropriate mediation analysis, but self-selected convenience sample and cross-sectional design.

When this study was published

2020 study. Relevant as sports organizations increasingly address cannabis policies.

The bigger picture

Simply providing cannabis information may not change behavior. This study suggests that attitudes act as a filter between knowledge and action, implying that education programs need to address attitudes, not just facts.

Questions still open

Would attitude-targeted education programs change cannabis use patterns in athletes? Do coaches and team physicians influence athlete attitudes about cannabis? How do anti-doping policies interact with athlete cannabis attitudes?

Common questions

How many athletes used cannabis?

26% were current users, 41.6% had used in the past, and 32.4% had never used. Liberal-attitude athletes were most likely to be current users.

Did more knowledgeable athletes use more cannabis?

Knowledge alone did not directly predict use. Instead, attitudes mediated the relationship: more knowledgeable athletes with liberal attitudes were more likely to use, while more knowledgeable athletes with conservative attitudes were not.

Read the original research

Attitudes about cannabis mediate the relationship between cannabis knowledge and use in active adult athletes.

Journal of cannabis research, 2(1), 18

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Zeiger, Joanna S; Silvers, William S; Fleegler, Edward M; Zeiger, Robert S. (2020). Attitudes about cannabis mediate the relationship between cannabis knowledge and use in active adult athletes.. Journal of cannabis research, 2(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-020-00023-3