Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 91, Issue 2 , Pages 121-128, 1 December 2007

Predictors of marijuana use among married couples: the influence of one's spouse

  • Gregory G. Homish

      Affiliations

    • Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1016, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 716 887 3306; fax: +1 716 887 2215.
    • ,
  • Kenneth E. Leonard

      Affiliations

    • Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1016, USA
    • Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203-1016, USA
    • ,
  • Jack R. Cornelius

      Affiliations

    • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

Received 11 September 2006; received in revised form 18 April 2007; accepted 14 May 2007.

Abstract 

With the transition into marriage, marijuana and other substance use tends to decline; however, this is not true for all individuals. The objective of this work was to examine the impact of premarital individual and partner psychological health and substance use behaviors on the likelihood of using marijuana over the first four years of marriage. Couples’ (N=634) marijuana use, other substance use, and psychological variables were assessed at the time they applied for their marriage license and then again at the first, second and fourth anniversaries. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the risk for using marijuana over the first four years of marriage after controlling for the natural decrease in risk associated with time and other relevant sociodemographic variables. Smoking prior to marriage and heavy alcohol use was associated with an increased risk for using marijuana over the first four years of marriage for both husbands and wives. After considering the impact of time and individual risk factors, a spouse's use of marijuana prior to marriage was a strong predictor of increased risk for marijuana use during the first four years of marriage.

Keywords: Marijuana, Marriage, Young adults

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S0376-8716(07)00216-5

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.05.014

Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 91, Issue 2 , Pages 121-128, 1 December 2007

Article Tools