Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity and Marijuana Use Coping Motives: A Test of the Mediating Role of Non-Judgmental Acceptance within a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mindfulness Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined the role of non-judgmental acceptance in the relation between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and marijuana use coping motives. These relations were examined among 97 (46 women) adults (M age = 21.57 years, SD = 6.32) who met DSM-IV-defined PTSD Criterion A for at least one traumatic event exposure and reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. Consistent with expectation, greater levels of posttraumatic stress symptom severity were associated with greater levels of coping-oriented marijuana use motives, as well as lower levels of non-judgmental acceptance. Furthermore, non-judgmental acceptance was inversely associated with coping-oriented marijuana use motives. Finally, non-judgmental acceptance was found to partially mediate the association between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and marijuana use coping motives. Results are discussed in terms of better understanding the role of non-judgmental acceptance in coping-oriented marijuana use among trauma-exposed populations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alterman, A., Koppenhaver, J., Mulholland, E., Ladden, L., & Baime, M. (2004). Pilot trial of effectiveness of mindfulness meditation for substance abuse patients. Journal of Substance Use, 9(6), 259–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.), text revision. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., & Allen, K. B. (2004). Assessment of mindfulness by self-report: the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills. Assessment, 11, 191–203.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, R. A., Smith, T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using self-report assessment methods to explore facets of mindfulness. Assessment, 13, 27–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bien, T. (2009). Paradise lost: Mindfulness and addictive behavior. In F. Didonna (Ed.), Clinical handbook of mindfulness (pp. 289–297). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., et al. (2004). Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11, 230–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block-Lerner, J., Salters-Pedneault, K., & Tull, M. T. (2005). Assessing mindfulness and experiential avoidance. In S. R. Orsillo & L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety (pp. 71–99). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bonn-Miller, M. O., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2009). An evaluation of the nature of marijuana use and its motives among young adult active users. The American Journal on Addictions, 18, 409–416.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonn-Miller, M. O., Vujanovic, A. A., Feldner, M. T., Bernstein, A., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2007). Posttraumatic stress symptom severity predicts marijuana use coping motives among traumatic event-exposed marijuana users. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20(4), 577–586.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bonn-Miller, M. O., Zvolensky, M. J., Bernstein, A., & Stickle, T. R. (2008). Marijuana coping motives interact with marijuana use frequency to predict anxious arousal, panic related catastrophic thinking, and worry among current marijuana users. Depression and Anxiety, 25, 862–873.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S., & Marlatt, G. A. (2009). Surfing the urge: Brief mindfulness-based intervention for college student smokers. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23(4), 666–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T. M., Chawla, N., Simpson, T. L., Ostafin, B. D., et al. (2006). Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 20(3), 343–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bremner, J. D., Southwick, S. M., Darnell, A., & Charney, D. S. (1996). Chronic PTSD in Vietnam combat veterans: course of illness and substance abuse. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 153(3), 369–375.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Budney, A. J., Moore, B. A., Vandrey, R., & Hughes, J. R. (2003). The time course and significance of cannabis withdrawal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 112(3), 393–402.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chabrol, H., Ducongé, E., Casas, C., Roura, C., & Carey, K. B. (2005). Relations between cannabis use and dependence, motives for cannabis use and anxious, depressive and borderline symptomatology. Addictive Behaviors, 30(4), 829–840.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • First, M., Spitzer, R., Gibbon, M., & Williams, J. (1995). Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (nonpatient edition). New York: Biometrics Research Department, New York State Psychiatric Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foa, E. (1995). Posttraumatic stress diagnostic scale. Minneapolis, MN: National Computer Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foa, E. B., Cashman, L., Jaycox, L., & Perry, K. (1997). The validation of a self-report measure of posttraumatic stress disorder: The Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Psychological Assessment, 9, 445–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Follette, V. M., & Vijay, A. (2009). Mindfulness for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. In F. Didonna (Ed.), Clinical handbook of mindfulness (pp. 299–317). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy: An experiential approach to behavior change. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Lopez, M., Luciano, M. C., Bricker, J. B., Roales-Nieto, J. G., & Montesinos, F. (2009). Acceptance and commitment therapy for smoking cessation: A preliminary study of its effectiveness in comparison with cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23(4), 723–730.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, S. H., Grow, J., & Marlatt, G. A. (2008). Mindfulness and addiction. Recent Developments in Alcoholism, 18, 229–250.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. A., Bonn-Miller, M. O., Leyro, T. M., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2009). Anxious arousal and anhedonic depression symptoms and the frequency of current marijuana use: Testing the mediating role of marijuana-use coping motives among active users. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 70(4), 543–550.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, K. A., Mullin, J. L., Marshall, E. C., Bonn-Miller, M. O., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2010). Exploring the mediational role of coping motives for marijuana use in terms of the relation between anxiety sensitivity and marijuana dependence. The American Journal on Addictions, 19, 277–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilpatrick, D. G., Acierno, R., Saunders, B., Resnick, H. S., Best, C. L., & Schnurr, P. P. (2000). Risk factors for adolescent substance abuse and dependence: Data from a national sample. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(1), 19–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McRae, A. L., Budney, A. J., & Brady, K. T. (2003). Treatment of marijuana dependence: A review of the literature. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 24, 369–376.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Orsillo, S. M., & Batten, S. V. (2005). Acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behavior Modification, 29(1), 95–129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2004). SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers, 36(4), 717–731.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shafil, M., Lavely, R., & Jaffe, R. (1974). Meditation and marijuana. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 131(1), 60–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheets, V., & Braver, S. L. (1999). Organizational status and perceived sexual harassment: Detecting the mediators of a null effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25(9), 1159–1171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7(4), 422–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, J., Correia, C. J., Carey, K. B., & Borsari, B. E. (1998). Validating a five-factor marijuana motives measure: Relations with use, problems, and alcohol motives. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45(3), 265–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, T. L., Kaysen, D., Bowen, S., MacPherson, L. M., Chawla, N., Blume, A., et al. (2007). PTSD symptoms, substance use, and vipassana meditation among incarcerated individuals. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20(3), 239–249.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, R. L., & Williams, J. B. (1986). Structured clinical interview for DSM-III-R-Non-Patient Version (modified for Vietnam veterans readjustment study 4/1/87). New York: New York State Psychiatric Institute, Biometrics Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • State of Vermont Department of Health (2009). Retrieved June 30, 2009, from http://www.healthyvermonters.info/.

  • Stephens, R. S. (1999). Cannabis and hallucinogens. In B. S. McCrady & E. E. Epstein (Eds.), Addictions: A comprehensive guidebook (pp. 121–140). London: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens, R. S., Roffman, R. A., & Curtin, L. (2000). Comparison of extended versus brief treatments for marijuana use. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 898–908.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Twohig, M. P., Shoenberger, D., & Hayes, S. C. (2007). A preliminary investigation of acceptance and commitment therapy as a treatment for marijuana dependence in adults. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40(4), 619–632.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vlahov, D., Galea, S., Resnick, H., Ahern, J., Boscarino, J. A., Bucuvalas, M., et al. (2002). Increased use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana among Manhattan, New York, residents after the September 11th terrorist attacks. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155(11), 988–996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vujanovic, A. A., Youngwirth, N. E., Johnson, K. A., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2009). Mindfulness-based acceptance and posttraumatic stress symptoms among trauma-exposed adults without axis I psychopathology. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23(2), 297–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walser, R. D., & Hayes, S. C. (2006). Acceptance and commitment therapy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Theoretical and applied issues. In V. M. Follette & J. I. Ruzek (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioral therapies for trauma (pp. 146–172). New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walser, R. D., & Westrup, D. (2007). Acceptance and commitment therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A practitioner’s guide to using mindfulness and acceptance strategies. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D. (2000). Mood and temperament. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 1063–1070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zvolensky, M. J., Vujanovic, A. A., Bernstein, A., Bonn-Miller, M. O., Marshall, E. C., & Leyro, T. (2007). Marijuana use motives: A confirmatory test and evaluation among young adult marijuana users. Addictive Behaviors, 32, 3122–3130.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported, in part, by a Veterans Affairs Clinical Science Research and Development (CSR&D) Career Development Award–2, granted to Dr. Bonn-Miller, as well as a National Research Service Award (1 F31 DA21006-02) granted to Dr. Vujanovic. The authors would also like to thank Drs. Michael J. Zvolensky (1 R03 DA016566-01A2), Amit Bernstein (1 F31 MH073205-01), and Alison C. McLeish for their contribution of a portion of the data used in the current study. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for PTSD and Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park Division (152), 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Marcel O. Bonn-Miller

  2. National Center for PTSD–Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Anka A. Vujanovic

  3. Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

    Michael P. Twohig

  4. Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Johnna L. Medina & Jennifer L. Huggins

Authors
  1. Marcel O. Bonn-Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anka A. Vujanovic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael P. Twohig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Johnna L. Medina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jennifer L. Huggins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcel O. Bonn-Miller.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bonn-Miller, M.O., Vujanovic, A.A., Twohig, M.P. et al. Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity and Marijuana Use Coping Motives: A Test of the Mediating Role of Non-Judgmental Acceptance within a Trauma-Exposed Community Sample. Mindfulness 1, 98–106 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-010-0013-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-010-0013-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation