The Relationship Between BIS/BAS and Marijuana Use Moderated by Substance Use Expectancies

As more states legalize marijuana and the prevalence of use continues to rise in young adults, understanding predictors of marijuana use becomes increasingly important. While extensive research on individual differences relating to marijuana use exists, differences in Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System sensitivity (BIS and BAS) have received relatively little attention. BIS and BAS have been shown to relate to various substance use behavior, and preliminary cross-sectional and longitudinal studies including BIS/BAS and marijuana use suggests they may be associated with one another. However, additional testing is needed, and how BIS and BAS relate to marijuana use remains uncertain. The proposed study aims to address this by evaluating the potential moderating effects relevant substance use expectancies may have on the relationships in a college student sample.