Skip to main content
NCBI home page
NIHPA Author Manuscripts logoLink to NIHPA Author Manuscripts
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2025 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Psychoactive Drugs. 2023 Mar 25;56(2):177–186. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2191605

The Associations of Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration with Cannabis-Related Outcomes in a Multi-Site Sample of College Students

Dylan K Richards 1, Frank J Schwebel 1, Craig A Field 2, Matthew R Pearson 1; Addictions Research Team
PMCID: PMC10518366  NIHMSID: NIHMS1883138  PMID: 36966350

Abstract

Psychological need satisfaction and need frustration, proposed by self-determination theory, may serve as conditions that foster health-promoting and health-impairing behaviors related to cannabis use. In the present study, we examined the measurement model of psychological need satisfaction and need frustration and their associations with cannabis protective behavioral strategies use, negative cannabis-related consequences, and cannabis use severity. Data were from 1394 college students from 10 universities across the U.S. who reported past-month cannabis use. A higher-order factor model representing general psychological need satisfaction and need frustration provided a good fit to the data. Regressing the three observed cannabis outcome variables onto these higher-order latent factors, we found that greater need satisfaction was associated with more frequent cannabis protective behavioral strategies use and fewer negative cannabis-related consequences. Greater need frustration was associated with greater negative cannabis-related consequences and cannabis use severity. Further, an interaction effect between need satisfaction and need frustration emerged for each cannabis outcome such that greater need satisfaction attenuated the associations between need frustration and cannabis outcomes and greater need frustration strengthened the associations between need satisfaction and cannabis outcomes. Implications for the roles of need satisfaction and need frustration in cannabis use and future intervention development are discussed.

Keywords: self-determination theory, psychological needs, cannabis, college students

Introduction

Data from the Monitoring the Future survey indicate that the prevalence of daily cannabis use in 2020 among college students (7.9%) is the highest it has been in the past four decades (Schulenberg et al., 2021). Preliminary evidence suggests that these increases may be due, in part, to the recent legalization of recreational cannabis use in states throughout the U.S. (Smart & Pacula, 2019). Further, research has found that most college students (90.8%) who reported cannabis use in the past month experienced at least one negative consequence associated with their use (e.g., “The quality of my work or schoolwork has suffered because of my cannabis use”) (Pearson et al., 2017). Thus, identifying novel, modifiable antecedents of cannabis-related outcomes among college students may inform intervention development, providing insight into potential active ingredients for reducing cannabis-related harms. The present study examines the associations between psychological need satisfaction and need frustration, as described by self-determination theory, with cannabis-related outcomes among college students.

Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration

Self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000) is a meta-theory of human motivation that has been applied to understand why people engage in health behaviors (for meta-analyses, see Gillison et al., 2019; Ng et al., 2012; Ntoumanis et al., 2021). The Basic Psychological Need Theory of SDT postulates that people have three basic psychological needs for autonomy, the experience of volition and willingness; competence, the experience of effectiveness and mastery; and relatedness, the experience of warmth, bonding, and care in relationships with others (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020). According to SDT, satisfaction of the psychological needs is essential for optimal functioning and well-being, including the experience of autonomous motivation for engaging in health-promoting behaviors, which increases the likelihood of engagement in these behaviors and is essential for maintenance of engagement in these behaviors over time (Ryan et al., 2008). In contrast, frustration of the psychological needs (an active threat to the needs that is distinct from and more negative than absence of satisfaction) is proposed to thwart motivation and result in disengagement and experiences of ill-being and distress, and thereby serve a transdiagnostic role in psychological disorders (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020). More specifically, need frustration is the experience of pressure and conflict (autonomy); social alienation, exclusion, and loneliness (relatedness); and ineffectiveness or failure and helplessness (competence). As mentioned above, meta-analytic evidence provides support for SDT such that, across a range of health behaviors such as tobacco cessation, medication adherence, and glycemic control, satisfaction of the psychological needs is related to more internalized motivation for engaging in health-promoting behaviors, and, in turn, more positive health outcomes (Ng et al., 2012). Additionally, there is meta-analytic support for the efficacy of health interventions based on SDT that target satisfaction of the psychological needs through need-supporting techniques (Gillison et al., 2019; Ntoumanis et al., 2021).

Further, given increased attention on need satisfaction and need frustration as distinct conditions (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020), studies have considered their interactive relations with outcomes. One study found, for example, that greater need satisfaction reduced the negative associations of need frustration with vitality and exhaustion among athletes (Bartholomew et al., 2011). This finding suggests that experiencing need satisfaction is more critical for positive behavioral outcomes among those who experience more need frustration. As mentioned previously, however, distinguishing need frustration from need satisfaction is a recent endeavor and more research is needed to better understand how these conditions both uniquely and synergistically influence behavior.

Applications of SDT to Understand Substance Use

Psychological need satisfaction and need frustration may be conditions that contribute to the extent to which people experience substance-related harms. That is, need satisfaction may promote behaviors that reduce substance-related harms, whereas need frustration may promote behaviors that increase substance-related harms. Most research on this topic, to date, has focused on alcohol. Richards and colleagues (2020, 2022) found that college students who fit a latent profile defined by autonomous motivation for drinking responsibly endorsed the highest levels of need satisfaction and lowest levels of need frustration, and reported the least alcohol use and fewest negative alcohol-related consequences. Other research has found that greater endorsement of need satisfaction while drinking among Indigenous Australians was related to greater alcohol use and dependence, suggesting that drinking may serve as an attempt to satisfy frustrated needs (Conigrave et al., 2021). Despite growing support for a link between the psychological needs and substance-related outcomes, especially alcohol, and the potential for this link to inform substance use intervention for college students, no study to our knowledge has examined relationships between the psychological needs and cannabis-related outcomes. Preliminary, cross-sectional support for the relationship between the psychological needs and cannabis-related otucomes is needed prior to leveraging SDT to address the public health burden of cannabis use among college students.

Present Study

We sought to examine the associations between psychological need satisfaction and need frustration with cannabis-related outcomes among a large, multi-site sample of college students who reported past-month cannabis use. Given the nascency of this research area, we first confirmed the measurement model of psychological need satisfaction and need frustration found in general college student samples prior to testing the structural model. Then, we used structural equation modeling to simultaneously test the associations of higher-order latent factors of psychological need satisfaction and need frustration, and the interaction between the two, with cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) use, cannabis use severity, and negative cannabis-related consequences. Consistent with SDT, we hypothesized that need satisfaction would be positively associated with cannabis PBS use (health promoting) and negatively correlated with negative cannabis-related consequences and cannabis use severity (health impairing). We hypothesized associations in the opposite directions for need frustration. Consistent with prior studies, we hypothesized that greater need satisfaction would reduce the negative association of need frustration with PBS and the positive associations with cannabis use severity and negative cannabis-related consequences. In other words, greater need frustration would increase the positive association of need satisfaction with cannabis PBS and the negative association with cannabis use severity and negative cannabis-related consequences.

Methods

Participants and Procedures

A convenience sample of 5497 psychology students were recruited from 10 universities in 8 states across the U.S. (AK, CA, CO, ID, NM, TX, VA, WA). We restricted analyses to participants reporting cannabis use at least once in the past month (n=1394). The sample was 20.25 years of age on average (SD=3.88) and mostly female (68.9%) and non-Hispanic white (59.5%). Further, the sample was 44.4% freshman, 23.8% sophomore, 17.3% junior, and 14.0% senior. Participants completed an online survey for partial course credit. A random missingness design was implemented to decrease participant burden. All participants in the analytic sample were assigned to complete the measures assessing cannabis-related outcomes, but roughly half (n=675) were randomly assigned to complete the measure assessing psychological need satisfaction and need frustration. We used full-information maximum likelihood estimation for our analyses which uses all available data for cases with missing on exogenous variables. These procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of record and electronic informed consent was obtained from participants.

Measures

Table 1 reports the descriptive statistics and reliability estimates for each of the variables described below.

Table 1.

Descriptive Statistics and Bivariate Correlations for the Study Variables

M SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Autonomy Satisfaction 3.60 0.81 (.80)
2. Autonomy Frustration 2.61 0.85 −.28** (.74)
3. Relatedness Satisfaction 3.97 0.90 .61** −.26** (.89)
4. Relatedness Frustration 2.10 0.94 −.24** .55** −.52** (.83)
5. Competence Satisfaction 3.69 0.88 .71** −.26** .62** −.30** (.88)
6. Competence Frustration 2.55 1.01 −.34** .61** −.36** .58** −.54** (.86)
7. Cannabis PBS 3.99 0.89 .20** −.13** .20** −.14** .15** −.12* (.90)
8. Negative Cannabis-Related Consequences 0.18 0.20 −.16** .15** −.17** .13** −.13** .22** −.36** (.88)
9. Cannabis Use Severity 16.10 5.67 −.14** .20** −.15** .22** −.12* .23** −.49** .64** (.84)
Open in a new tab

Note.

*

p<.01,

**

p<.001.

Reliability estimates (Cronbach’s alpha) are reported on the diagonal.

PBS = protective behavioral strategies.

Basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration.

We used the 24-item Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scales (BPNSFS; Chen et al., 2015) to assess satisfaction and frustration of the basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Each of the 6 subscales are comprised of 4 items. An example item for the satisfaction subscales include: “I feel a sense of choice and freedom in the things I undertake” (autonomy). An example item for the frustration subscales include: “Most of the things I do feel like ‘I have to’” (autonomy). Participants rate the extent to which each statement is true for them on a 5-point scale (1=Completely untrue, 5=Completely true). Observed subscale scores were created by averaging their respective items.

Cannabis PBS.

We used the 17-item Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana (PBSM; Pedersen et al., 2016; revised by Pedersen et al., 2017) to assess the frequency of cannabis PBS use (e.g., “Use marijuana only among trusted peers”). Participants rate the frequency in which they engage in each behavior while using cannabis on a 6-point scale (1=Never, 6=Always). A total score was calculated by averaging the items.

Cannabis use severity.

We used the 8-item Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R; Adamson et al., 2010) to assess cannabis use severity during the past 6 months. Items (e.g., “How often have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after using cannabis?”) of the CUDIT-R capture consumption, negative consequences, physical dependence, and psychological features. Participants rate each item using a 5-point scale (0 to 4) such that higher scores indicate more severe cannabis use. A total score was calculated by summing the items.

Negative cannabis-related consequences.

We used the 21-item Brief-Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (B-MACQ; Simons et al., 2012) to assess negative cannabis-related consequences experienced during the past month. The B-MACQ items capture negative cannabis-related consequences across the spectrum of severity (e.g., “I have had less energy or felt tired because of my marijuana use” to “I have gotten into physical fights because of my marijuana use”). Participants indicate whether each consequence was experienced during the past month using a binary scale (0=No, 1=Yes). A total score was calculated by averaging the items to reflect the proportion of consequences experienced.

Statistical Analysis

First, we computed zero-order correlations between the observed study variables. We then tested the measurement model of the BPNSFS. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test our hypothesis that a higher-order factor model would provide a good fit to the data (see Figure 1). Specifically, we hypothesized a model with six first-order factors representing satisfaction and frustration of autonomy, relatedness, and competence indicated by their respective items in the BPNSFS and two second-order factors representing general need satisfaction and general need frustration indicated by the three lower-order factors representing satisfaction and frustration of autonomy, relatedness, and competence, respectively (Chen et al., 2015). Correlations between the two first-order factors representing the same psychological need (e.g., autonomy satisfaction and autonomy frustration) and between the two second-order factors were estimated. To minimize confirmation bias (MacCallum & Austin, 2000), we tested two alternative models that are theoretically plausible (see Supplemental Materials): 1) two first-order factors representing general psychological need satisfaction and need frustration, and 2) three first-order factors representing autonomy, relatedness, and competence.

Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Open in a new tab

Standardized Parameter Estimates for the Higher-Order Factor of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS). Only statistically significant estimates are shown.

We then tested the structural model of the associations between the BPNSFS and cannabis-related outcomes. To test our hypotheses regarding these associations, we extended the hypothesized measurement model described above by simultaneously regressing observed scores of the PBSM, CUDIT-R, and B-MACQ onto the second-order factors representing general need satisfaction and need frustration and their (standardized) interaction (see Figure 2). Correlations between the two second-order factors and among the three cannabis-related outcome variables (PBSM, CUDIT-R, B-MACQ) were estimated.

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Open in a new tab

Standardized Parameter Estimates for the Structural Model Predicting Cannabis-Related Outcomes from High-Order Factors of Psychological Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration and Their Interaction. Only statistically significant estimates are shown. The dot is used to represent an interaction term.

The measurement and structural models were conducted using full-information maximum likelihood estimation with robust standard errors (MLR) in Mplus 8.5 (Muthén & Muthén, 1998-2017). Latent variables were provided a metric by setting the first factor loading to one. To evaluate global fit of the models, we considered joint global fit criteria based on values of the Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR) (Hu & Bentler, 1999). These joint global fit criteria were prioritized over the chi-square test given its sensitivity to sample size. Values of CFI≥.95, RMSEA≤.06, and SRMR≤.08 were considered as indicative of a good global fit to the data (Hu & Bentler, 1999). Statistically significant interactions (p<.05) were probed by displaying the associations between the standardized higher-order need satisfaction and need frustration and the outcome at low (−1 SD) and high (+1 SD) levels of the standardized higher-order need frustration and need satisfaction, respectively. Data to reproduce the results can be obtained from the corresponding author by request.

Results

Descriptive Statistics and Zero-Order Correlations

Table 1 reports the descriptive statistics and zero-order correlations for the observed study variables. Mean scores were higher on the BPNSFS satisfaction subscales than the frustration subscales (M = 3.60–3.97 vs M = 2.10–2.61). Large positive correlations (.61 < rs < .71) were found among the satisfaction subscales and among the frustration subscales (.55 < rs < .61). Negative correlations were found between the satisfaction subscales and frustration subscales, ranging from small-to-large in magnitude (−.24 < rs < −.54). Generally, the magnitudes of these correlations were the largest for subscales of the same psychological need (i.e., relatedness satisfaction and relatedness frustration: r = −.52, competence satisfaction and competence frustration: r = −.54). The exception to this was that autonomy satisfaction had a greater negative correlation with the competence frustration than autonomy frustration (r = −.34 vs. r = −.28).

Measurement Model

The higher-order factor model of the BPNSFS provided a good fit to the data: Satorra-Bentler Adjusted X2 (242, n = 675) = 477.642, p < .0001; CFI = .960; RMSEA = .038, 90% CI = .033–.043; SRMR = .042. Figure 1 displays the statistically significant standardized estimates of the model. Each item loaded saliently onto its respective first-order factor (standardized loadings: .525 < λs < .883) and each first-order factor loaded saliently onto its respective second-order factor (standardized loadings: .774 < λs < .942). Consistent with the zero-order correlations, the relatedness and competence satisfaction factors demonstrated large negative correlations with the relatedness and competence frustration factors, respectively (r = −.722 and −.872), and the correlation between autonomous satisfaction factor and autonomous frustration factor was not statistically significant (r = −.147, p = .446). There was a moderate-to-large negative correlation between the second-order general need satisfaction and need frustration factors. In contrast, the alternative models provided a poor fit to the data (see Supplemental Materials).

Structural Model

We proceeded with examining the latent need satisfaction factor and latent need frustration factor as well as their interaction as predictors of the PBSM, B-MACQ, and CUDIT-R (see Figure 2). The model accounted for 9.3%, 18.7%, and 39.5% of the variance in cannabis PBS use, cannabis use severity, and negative cannabis-related consequences, respectively. We found statistically significant interactions of need satisfaction and need frustration on each cannabis-related outcome, so we interpret all associations conditionally (see Figure 3). Additionally, we conducted a sensitivity analysis controlling for several participants characteristics that have been found to be associated with cannabis outcomes (i.e., age, biological sex assigned at birth, and ethnicity [0=minoritized racial/ethnic groups, 1 = non-Hispanic white]). The results were identical in regard to statistically significant associations reported in Figure 2 and thus are not presented further.

Figure 3.

Figure 3.

Open in a new tab

Standardized Interaction Effects between Higher-Order Factors of Psychological Need Satisfaction and Need Frustration on the Cannabis-Related Outcomes. (A and B) Outcome is cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) with need satisfaction and need frustration plotted on the x-axis, respectively. (C and D) Outcome is negative cannabis-related consequences with need satisfaction and need frustration plotted on the x-axis, respectively. (E and F) Outcome is cannabis use severity with need satisfaction and need frustration plotted on the x-axis, respectively.

The association between need satisfaction and cannabis PBS use was moderately positive among those with high (β = .299) and average (β = .208) need frustration and weakly positive among those with low need frustration (β = .117) (see Figure 3 [Panel A]). The association between need frustration and cannabis PBS use was moderately negative among those with low need satisfaction (β = −.200), weakly negative among those with average need satisfaction (β = −.109), and approximately zero among those with high need satisfaction (β = −.018) (see Figure 3 [Panel B]).

The association between need satisfaction and negative cannabis-related consequences was strongly negative among those with high need frustration (β = −.570), weakly negative among those with average need frustration (β = −.192), and weakly positive among those with low need frustration (β = .186) (see Figure 3 [Panel C]). The association between need frustration and negative cannabis-related consequences was strongly positive among those with low need satisfaction (β = .689), moderately positive among those with average need satisfaction (β = .311), and non-significantly negative among those with high need satisfaction (β = −.067) (see Figure 3 [Panel D]).

The association between need satisfaction and cannabis use severity was weakly positive among those with low need frustration (β = .507), weakly negative among those with average need frustration (β = −.072), and moderately negative among those with high need satisfaction (β = .238) (see Figure 3 [Panel E]). The association between need frustration and cannabis use severity was strongly positive among those with low need satisfaction (β = .507), moderately positive among those with average need satisfaction (β = .341), and weakly positive among those with high need satisfaction (β = .175) (see Figure 3 [Panel F]).

Discussion

Our aim in the present study was to examine the associations of basic psychological need satisfaction and need frustration with cannabis-related outcomes. Consistent with our hypothesis and some previous research, we found support for a higher-order factor structure with six lower-order factors representing satisfaction and frustration of autonomy, relatedness, and competence and two higher-order factors representing general need satisfaction and general need frustration indicated by the first-order satisfaction and frustration factors, respectively. A recent study (Murphy et al., 2023), however, suggests that these higher-order factors may reflect valence of the need satisfaction (positive) and need frustration (negative) items, and that the need frustration items lack content coverage. Future research is needed to continue to improve the measurement of need satisfaction and need frustration, if indeed these are distinct conditions as described by SDT. The two second-order factors demonstrated a moderate negative correlation suggesting that those who experience more psychological need satisfaction experience less psychological need frustration. Overall, support for the hypothesized measurement model of the BPNSFS among a sample of college students with past-month cannabis use allowed us to proceed with examining the associations of basic psychological need satisfaction, need frustration, and their interaction with cannabis-related outcomes.

Our finding that greater need satisfaction demonstrated the strongest positive relationship with cannabis PBS use (health promoting) is consistent with this proposal of SDT that this condition increases health-promoting behaviors (Ryan et al., 2008). A meta-analysis of 184 datasets found that psychological need satisfaction was related to a host of health-promoting behaviors, such as smoking abstinence, physical activity, and medication adherence (Ng et al., 2012). More recent research has also found that need satisfaction is associated with more internalized types of motivation for using alcohol responsibly which have been shown to be related to more frequent alcohol PBS use (Richards et al., 2020, 2021). The present study extends these findings to cannabis which may encourage future research on SDT-informed interventions for cannabis use among college students. Importantly, SDT proposes that supporting the psychological needs may serve as active ingredient of health interventions (Ryan et al., 2008), and the efficacy of motivational interviewing, a popular intervention for hazardous cannabis use, has been attributed to its components supporting the psychological needs (e.g., Markland et al., 2005). Initial support found in the present study for SDT proposals in the context of cannabis use may spur future research on intervention development.

In contrast, frustration of the psychological needs is proposed to contribute to dysfunctional behavior and ill-being, including poorer physical health, although less research has focused on need frustration in comparison to need satisfaction (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020). Consistent with this proposal, we found that greater need frustration demonstrated the strongest positive relationship with cannabis use severity and negative cannabis-related consequences (health impairing). Some research has found that college students who score higher on risk factors for alcohol use (i.e., less internalized types of motivation for using alcohol responsibly and drinking motives) also report greater endorsement of need frustration (Richards et al., 2022). The present findings are consistent with this research as well as the more general growing body of research that has found that need frustration is related with indicators of ill-being, such as poorer sleep (Vansteenkiste et al., 2020). Indeed, Vansteenkiste and colleagues call for research on need frustration as a potential transdiagnostic factor in the development of a diversity of pathological symptoms, and the present findings suggest that future research could examine the role of need frustration in the development of problematic cannabis use. Given the moderate negative association between need frustration and need satisfaction in the present study, future research on SDT-based interventions for cannabis might also consider if support for the psychological needs reduces frustration and thereby risk behaviors for cannabis.

Notably, the associations of both need satisfaction and need frustration with cannabis outcomes were small in magnitude. This may be for two reasons: 1) need satisfaction and need frustration were assessed in general, not in the context of cannabis use, and 2) SDT proposes motivation as intermediate variable that may explain the influence of need satisfaction and need frustration on behavioral outcomes. That is, need satisfaction promotes the internalization of motivation for healthy behaviors, whereas need frustration thwarts internalization of motivation for healthy behaviors. Future research is needed to develop measures of need satisfaction and need frustration in the context of cannabis use as well as experimental and longitudinal studies that test the causal chain proposed by SDT. The present study is a preliminary step toward future research investigating the potential of need satisfaction for cannabis interventions and the role of need frustration in the development of cannabis problems.

Finally, we found evidence for interactions of need satisfaction and need frustration on each cannabis-related outcome. The protective association of need satisfaction with higher cannabis PBS use was evident across levels of need frustration; however, this positive association was strongest among those with higher need frustration. The associations of higher need frustration with more cannabis use severity and negative cannabis-related consequences were strong among those with low need satisfaction and weak or non-significant among those with high need satisfaction. As recommended by Vansteenkiste et al. (2020), identifying profiles based on satisfaction and frustration of the individual psychological needs with the use of latent profile analysis may be useful for better understanding these combined influences as well as the characteristics of who is more likely to endorse a particular psychological need profile. An important implication of this finding is that it may promote research that tests whether supporting the psychological needs through college student cannabis interventions are an efficacious technique for reducing cannabis-related harms among those who are most vulnerable, or who experience the greatest need frustration. Future research is needed to examine interventions that both satisfy psychological needs and help individuals cope with frustration of psychological needs as active ingredients for reducing hazardous cannabis use and associated harms.

Despite the large multi-site sample of college students, we used convenience sampling from psychology department participant pools, so females were overrepresented. This sampling technique could limit generalizability to the broader college student population in the U.S., thus replication of findings using distinct samples is warranted. We also collected data from universities in states with varying cannabis policies and did not test for differences in the hypothesized associations across types of policies (e.g., legal medical use versus legal medical and recreational use) due to statistical power concerns. However, representation of these varying cannabis policies may increase the generalizability of our findings. Given the observational cross-sectional study design, temporal precedence and causality cannot be established. Future research employing longitudinal observational designs to test the hypothesized relationships prospectively as well as experimental studies that support the psychological needs are needed to establish causality. Finally, SDT proposes that the psychological needs influence behavior through motivation. That is, need satisfaction facilitates internalized motivation, and need frustration thwarts internalized motivation, for health-promoting behaviors which is necessary for the maintenance of these behaviors in the long-term (Ryan et al., 2008). We did not consider motivation defined by SDT in the present study because, to our knowledge, there is no validated measure in relation to cannabis use. Future work is needed to validate such a measure and subsequently test the theorized causal path (i.e., motivational mediation model) that the psychological needs influence internalization of motivation, which, in turn, influences behavior.

We found support for SDT by demonstrating associations between psychological need satisfaction and health-promoting cannabis use behaviors (i.e., cannabis PBS) and associations between psychological need frustration and health-impairing cannabis use (cannabis use severity and negative cannabis-related consequences) in a large, multi-site sample of college students. Importantly, greater need satisfaction reduced the associations of need frustration with cannabis outcomes whereas greater need frustration increased the associations of need satisfaction with cannabis outcomes. Findings of the present study lend some preliminary support to the application of SDT to understand cannabis use among college students. That is, need satisfaction may be a condition that promotes behaviors that reduce the harms of cannabis use, whereas need frustration may be a condition nthat promotes behaviors that increase the harms of cannabis use. These preliminary findings may motivate future research on cannabis interventions based on SDT for reducing consumption and associated negative consequences and improving well-being.

Supplementary Material

1

Acknowledgment:

DKR is supported by an individual training grant (F32 AA028712) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). FJS was supported by an institutional training grant from NIAAA (T32 AA018108). NIAAA had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Footnotes

*

This project was completed by the Addictions Research Team (ART), which includes the following investigators: Matthew R. Pearson, University of New Mexico (Coordinating PI); Adrian J. Bravo, William & Mary (site PI); Bradley T. Conner, Colorado State University – Fort Collins (site PI); Carrie Cuttler, Washington State University (site PI); Craig A. Field, University of Texas at El Paso (site PI); Vivian Gonzalez, University of Alaska - Anchorage (site PI); James M. Henson, Old Dominion University (site PI); Jon M. Houck, Mind Research Network; Kevin M. King, University of Washington (site PI); Benjamin O. Ladd, Washington State University (site PI); Kevin S. Montes, California State University – Dominguez Hills (site PI); Mark A. Prince, Colorado State University – Fort Collins (site PI); Maria M. Wong, Idaho State University (site PI).

Disclosures:

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

References

  1. Adamson SJ, Kay-Lambkin FJ, Baker AL, Lewin TJ, Thornton L, Kelly BJ, & Sellman JD (2010). An improved brief measure of cannabis misuse: The Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R)☆. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 110(1–2), 137–143. 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.02.017 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bartholomew KJ, Ntoumanis N, Ryan RM, Bosch JA, & Thøgersen-Ntoumani C (2011). Self-Determination Theory and Diminished Functioning: The Role of Interpersonal Control and Psychological Need Thwarting. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(11), 1459–1473. 10.1177/0146167211413125 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chen B, Vansteenkiste M, Beyers W, Boone L, Deci EL, Van der Kaap-Deeder J, Duriez B, Lens W, Matos L, Mouratidis A, Ryan RM, Sheldon KM, Soenens B, Van Petegem S, & Verstuyf J (2015). Basic psychological need satisfaction, need frustration, and need strength across four cultures. Motivation and Emotion, 39(2), 216–236. 10.1007/s11031-014-9450-1 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  4. Conigrave JH, Bradshaw EL, Conigrave KM, Ryan RM, Wilson S, Perry J, Doyle MF, & Lee KSK (2021). Alcohol consumption and dependence is linked to the extent that people experience need satisfaction while drinking alcohol in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 16(1), 23. 10.1186/s13722-021-00231-z [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gillison FB, Rouse P, Standage M, Sebire SJ, & Ryan RM (2019). A meta-analysis of techniques to promote motivation for health behaviour change from a self-determination theory perspective. Health Psychology Review, 13(1), 110–130. 10.1080/17437199.2018.1534071 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hu L, & Bentler PM (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. 10.1080/10705519909540118 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  7. MacCallum RC, & Austin JT (2000). Applications of structural equation modeling in psychological research. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 201–226. 10.1146/annurev.psych.51.1.201 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Markland D, Ryan RM, Tobin VJ, & Rollnick S (2005). Motivational Interviewing and Self–Determination Theory. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 24(6), 811–831. 10.1521/jscp.2005.24.6.811 [DOI] [Google Scholar]
  9. Miller WR, & Rollnick S (2012). Meeting in the middle: Motivational interviewing and self-determination theory. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 9(1), 25. 10.1186/1479-5868-9-25 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Murphy BA, Watts AL, Baker ZG, Don BP, Jolink TA, & Algoe SB (2023). The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scales probably do not validly measure need frustration. Psychological Assessment, 35(2), 127–139. 10.1037/pas0001193 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Muthén LK, & Muthén BO (1998). Mplus User’s Guide (Eighth). Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén. [Google Scholar]
  12. Ng JYY, Ntoumanis N, Thøgersen-Ntoumani C, Deci EL, Ryan RM, Duda JL, & Williams GC (2012a). Self-Determination Theory Applied to Health Contexts: A Meta-Analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 325–340. 10.1177/1745691612447309 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ng JYY, Ntoumanis N, Thøgersen-Ntoumani C, Deci EL, Ryan RM, Duda JL, & Williams GC (2012b). Self-Determination Theory Applied to Health Contexts: A Meta-Analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(4), 325–340. 10.1177/1745691612447309 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ntoumanis N, Ng JYY, Prestwich A, Quested E, Hancox JE, Thøgersen-Ntoumani C, Deci EL, Ryan RM, Lonsdale C, & Williams GC (2021). A meta-analysis of self-determination theory-informed intervention studies in the health domain: Effects on motivation, health behavior, physical, and psychological health. Health Psychology Review, 15(2), 214–244. 10.1080/17437199.2020.1718529 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Pearson MR, Liese BS, & Dvorak RD (2017). College student marijuana involvement: Perceptions, use, and consequences across 11 college campuses. Addictive Behaviors, 66, 83–89. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.10.019 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Pedersen ER, Huang W, Dvorak RD, Prince MA, Hummer JF, & (The Marijuana Outcomes Study Team). (2017). The Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana Scale: Further examination using item response theory. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(5), 548–559. 10.1037/adb0000271 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Pedersen ER, Hummer JF, Rinker DV, Traylor ZK, & Neighbors C (2016). Measuring Protective Behavioral Strategies for Marijuana Use Among Young Adults. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 77(3), 441–450. 10.15288/jsad.2016.77.441 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Richards DK, Pearson MR, & Field CA (2020). Profiles of motivations for responsible drinking among college students: A self-determination theory perspective. Addictive Behaviors, 111, 106550. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Richards DK, Pearson MR, & Field CA (2021). Further validation of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire for assessing motivations for responsible drinking: A test of self-determination theory. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 29(6), 679–688. 10.1037/pha0000405 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Richards DK, Schwebel FJ, Joseph VW, Pearson MR, & Addictions Research Team. (2022). A comprehensive examination of motivational profiles for alcohol-related behaviors among college students. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Ryan RM, & Deci EL (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78. 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Ryan RM, Patrick H, Deci EL, & Williams GC (2008a). Facilitating health behaviour change and its maintenance: Interventions based on self-determination theory. The European Health Psychologist, 10(1), 2–5. [Google Scholar]
  23. Ryan RM, Patrick H, Deci EL, & Williams GC (2008b). Facilitating health behaviour change and its maintenance: Interventions based on Self-Determination Theory. 10(1), 2–5. [Google Scholar]
  24. Schulenberg JE, Patrick ME, Johnston LD, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG, & Miech RA (2021). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2020: Volume II, College students and adults ages 19–60. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs.html#monographs [Google Scholar]
  25. Simons JS, Dvorak RD, Merrill JE, & Read JP (2012). Dimensions and severity of marijuana consequences: Development and validation of the Marijuana Consequences Questionnaire (MACQ). Addictive Behaviors, 37(5), 613–621. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.01.008 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Smart R, & Pacula RL (2019). Early evidence of the impact of cannabis legalization on cannabis use, cannabis use disorder, and the use of other substances: Findings from state policy evaluations. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 45(6), 644–663. 10.1080/00952990.2019.1669626 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Vansteenkiste M, Ryan RM, & Soenens B (2020). Basic psychological need theory: Advancements, critical themes, and future directions. Motivation and Emotion, 44(1), 1–31. 10.1007/s11031-019-09818-1 [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

1
NIHMS1883138-supplement-1.pdf (324.1KB, pdf)

RESOURCES