Examining daily associations between mental health symptoms and simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use and consequences among young adults

Time spent on social media and depressive symptoms in university students: The mediating role of psychoactive substances

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although some studies have related social media use and depressive symptoms, little is known about the role of psychoactive substance use in this relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the association between time spent on social media (TSSM) and depressive symptoms and to examine whether this relationship is mediated by psychoactive substances in students.

METHODS

Our cross-sectional analysis included a sample of students from a university in a large city in southern Brazil. The TSSM and tobacco frequency of consumption were self-reported. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Alcohol and illicit drug-related risks were assessed with the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Hayes's PROCESS macro was used for mediation analyses, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index and physical activity.

RESULTS

A total of 3161 students were included, of which, 69.0% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The association between TSSM and depressive symptoms was statistically significant and partially mediated by tobacco consumption (indirect effect [IE] = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.02-0.08), alcohol-related risk (IE = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.14-0.25), and illicit drug-related risk (IE = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.05-0.12).

CONCLUSION AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Our data suggest a direct relationship between TSSM and depressive symptoms, with a partial mediation effect of psychoactive substance use. This study highlights the importance that public health initiatives aimed at preventing depressive problems in young adults should focus not only on TSSM, but also on controlling and reducing psychoactive substance use.

Daily-level simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use and its associations with alcohol use, marijuana use, and negative consequences in a young adult community sample

BACKGROUND

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use has been associated with greater alcohol use and consequences at the daily level, but limited research has examined SAM use in relation to marijuana use and its consequences. This study tested daily associations between SAM use and four outcomes: alcohol use (number of drinks), marijuana use (hours high), negative alcohol consequences, and negative marijuana consequences.

METHODS

A community sample of young adults [ages 18-25, mean (SD) = 21.61 (2.17) years] with recent alcohol and SAM use was recruited (N = 409; 50.9% female; 48.2% non-Hispanic/Latinx White). Participants completed a baseline survey and six 2-week bursts of daily surveys (81.1% of morning surveys completed) and reported on substance use and negative substance-related consequences. Multilevel modeling was used to test the main aims and to explore each specific consequence.

RESULTS

Among days with any alcohol use, SAM use days were associated with consuming more drinks and experiencing more total negative alcohol-related consequences than non-SAM use days. Among days with any marijuana use, SAM use days were associated with more hours being high than non-SAM use days. Exploratory models showed that SAM use was related to five specific alcohol-related consequences and two specific marijuana-related consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings build upon prior research by showing that SAM use days are linked to consuming more drinks, reporting more hours being high from marijuana, and experiencing more total alcohol-related consequences even after controlling for the number of drinks, the number of hours high, any tobacco/nicotine use, and any other substance use. SAM use was also associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing some specific consequences related to alcohol and marijuana. The findings underscore the need for additional research on SAM use and marijuana-related outcomes.

Young Adult Physical, Social, and Temporal Contexts of Simultaneous Alcohol and Marijuana Use

OBJECTIVE

Simultaneous alcohol and marijuana (SAM) use is reported to be associated with heavier alcohol and marijuana use and more negative consequences, but less is known about the social, physical, and temporal contexts of SAM use.

METHOD

Young adults (N = 326, 51.2% male, 49.1% White non-Hispanic) who reported past-month SAM use completed up to 14 daily surveys across five bursts that assessed SAM use and negative consequences and social, physical, and temporal contexts. We used multilevel models to examine SAM use contexts' associations with alcohol/marijuana quantity and consequences.

RESULTS

The social context of alone only (vs. with others only) was associated with consuming fewer drinks. Physical contexts that included using both at home and outside the home (vs. only at home) were associated with greater alcohol and marijuana quantity and negative consequences (but not after controlling for alcohol quantity); use outside the home only (vs. only at home) was associated with more alcohol use, more alcohol consequences (but not after controlling for alcohol quantity), and fewer marijuana consequences (even after controlling for marijuana quantity). The temporal context of first engaging in SAM use before 6 P.M. (vs. after 9 P.M.) was associated with greater alcohol and marijuana quantity and more marijuana consequences (but not after controlling for number of hours high), and first engaging in SAM use between 6 and 9 P.M. was associated with more hours high.

CONCLUSIONS

SAM use contexts such as using with others, using outside the home, and using earlier in the evening are typically associated with greater alcohol/marijuana quantity and consequences.