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Beschreibung: Substance use is highly prevalent among young people, with cannabis being one of the most widely used substances, and recent research indicating that peak cannabis use occurs in the late twenties (e.g., Patrick et al., 2025). Substance use motives are central to understanding young adults? substance use and represent key targets for intervention (e.g., Lee et al., 2007). Much of the literature on cannabis use motives is informed by the alcohol literature (Cox & Klinger, 1988) and includes the original alcohol motive subtypes: social, enhancement, conformity (e.g., to avoid social rejection), and coping, as well as the additional motive expansion (e.g., enhancement of cognitive/perceptual experiences) (Simons et al., 1998). Mental health problems are also common during young adulthood and have risen over the past decade (e.g., Xiang et al., 2024). Although the association between substance use and mental health problems such as depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress, among young people is well-established (e.g., Esmaeelzadeh et al., 2018), less is known about the associations among cannabis use motives, substance use, and mental health, particularly in Switzerland. Prior work suggests that cannabis use motives among young people, especially coping motives (e.g., using cannabis to get away from my problems), are linked with use frequency and poorer mental health (e.g., Amiet et al., 2020; Bravo et al., 2019; Patrick et al., 2016; 2024). This thesis will examine different cannabis use motives in a community sample of young adults aged 28 (z-proso study; Ribeaud et al., 2022) and their associations with substance use (e.g., use of cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, non-medical use of opioids) and self-reported mental health (e.g., internalizing symptoms, well-being, stress, ADHD symptoms).
Anzahl Arbeiten für dieses Thema: 1
Zeitrahmen: 2026-27
Eingabedatum: 29.06.2026
Kontakt: Michelle Loher, E-Mail

Beschreibung: Cannabis is among the most commonly used substances worldwide, with young people reporting the highest levels of use, especially in their late twenties (e.g., Patrick et al., 2025). Substance use motives are central to understanding young adults? substance use including the situational and contextual factors surrounding use and are key targets for intervention (e.g., Lee et al., 2007). Recent research suggests that certain cannabis use motives among young people, such as coping reasons (e.g., to get away from my problems) are associated with use frequency and adverse long-term consequences (e.g., Bravo et al., 2019; Bray et al., 2021; Patrick et al., 2016; 2024). However, less is known about the precursors that shape cannabis use motives. The development of cannabis use motives (e.g., social, enhancement, coping) likely originates earlier in life, highlighting the need to examine childhood and adolescent predictors of such motives. Drawing on the broader substance use literature, factors such as poor mental well-being, engagement in risky behaviors, and early substance use are likely to contribute to use motives, but have rarely been studied in relation to cannabis use, particularly in Switzerland. In addition, sociodemographic differences, such as variation by sex in reported motives, are likely (e.g., Patrick et al., 2024). This thesis will examine longitudinal predictors from childhood and adolescence (e.g., mental health, early substance use, delinquency, peer influences) of different cannabis use motives in young adulthood using Swiss data spanning ages 7 to 28 (e.g., Ribeaud et al., 2022). The thesis will further investigate whether these associations differ by sex.
Anzahl Arbeiten für dieses Thema: 1
Zeitrahmen: 2026-27
Eingabedatum: 29.06.2026
Kontakt: Michelle Loher, E-Mail