Direct and indirect effects of false safety behaviors on cannabis use and related problems
Abstract
Background and Objectives: In light of increasing rates of cannabis use and use‐related problems, efforts to understand malleable psychological vulnerability factors related to use and related problems remain important as they can inform prevention and treatment efforts. Recent data indicate that false safety behaviors (FSB; ie, behaviors that may be effective in decreasing anxiety in the short‐term, but can maintain and even exacerbate anxiety in the long‐term) are related to cannabis problem severity. Thus, an important next step is to identify factors implicated in the relation between FSB and cannabis use behavior. The current study tested whether FSB were uniquely related to cannabis use problems and high‐risk cannabis use motives. We also tested whether FSB were indirectly related to cannabis outcomes via high‐risk motives. Method: The sample consisted of 349 current (69.6% female) cannabis‐using undergraduates who completed an online survey. Results: FSB was robustly related to cannabis‐related problems and cannabis use motives (ie, coping and availability) after controlling for anxiety and cannabis use frequency. FSB was indirectly related to cannabis problems via coping and availability motives and to cannabis use frequency via coping motives. Discussion and Conclusions: Results add to a growing literature indicating that FSB are related to cannabis problem severity and extend this work by identifying mechanisms underlying this relationship. Scientific Significance: Data indicate that FSB may be an under recognized, yet clinically important, vulnerability factor related to cannabis use problems. (Am J Addict 2018;27:29–34)
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999) · Structural Equation Modeling A Multidisciplinary Journal · doi:10.1080/10705519909540118 · Cited by 108,788 · see citing works
Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Demler, O., Jin, R., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.593 · Cited by 20,391 · see citing works
Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences.
Fong, G. T., Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. R. (1985) · Journal of the American Statistical Association · doi:10.2307/2287930 · Cited by 4,608 · see citing works
Mattick, R. P., & Clarke, J. C. (1998) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(97)10031-6 · Cited by 3,367 · see citing works
Motivations for alcohol use among adolescents: Development and validation of a four-factor model.
Cooper, M. L. (1994) · Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1037/1040-3590.6.2.117 · Cited by 2,399 · see citing works
A variance explanation paradox: When a little is a lot.
Abelson, R. P. (1985) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.97.1.129 · Cited by 1,045 · see citing works
Heimberg, R. G., Mueller, G. P., Holt, C. S., Hope, D. A., & Liebowitz, M. R. (1992) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(05)80308-9 · Cited by 740 · see citing works
Comparison of extended versus brief treatments for marijuana use.
Stephens, R. S., Roffman, R. A., & Curtin, L. (2000) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.68.5.898 · Cited by 711 · see citing works
Simons, J. S., Correia, C. J., Carey, K. B., & Borsari, B. E. (1998) · Journal of Counseling Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-0167.45.3.265 · Cited by 599 · see citing works
Brown, E. J., Turovsky, J., Heimberg, R. G., Juster, H. R., Brown, T. A., & Barlow, D. H. (1997) · Psychological Assessment · doi:10.1037/1040-3590.9.1.21 · Cited by 506 · see citing works
Specificity of social anxiety disorder as a risk factor for alcohol and cannabis dependence
Buckner, J. D., Schmidt, N. B., Lang, A. R., Small, J. W., Schlauch, R. C., & Lewinsohn, P. M. (2008) · Journal of Psychiatric Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2007.01.002 · Cited by 506 · see citing works
Self-citationCannabis use disorders in the USA: prevalence, correlates and co-morbidity
STINSON, F. S., RUAN, W. J., PICKERING, R., & GRANT, B. F. (2006) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291706008361 · Cited by 422 · see citing works
Marijuana motives: Young adults' reasons for using marijuana
Lee, C. M., Neighbors, C., & Woods-Jaeger, B. A. (2006) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.09.010 · Cited by 338 · see citing works
Rates of Psychiatric Comorbidity Among U.S. Residents with Lifetime Cannabis Dependence
Agosti, V., Nunes, E. V., & LEVIN, F. R. (2002) · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse · doi:10.1081/ada-120015873 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Marijuana use motives and social anxiety among marijuana-using young adults
Buckner, J. D., Bonn‐Miller, M. O., Zvolensky, M. J., & Schmidt, N. B. (2007) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2007.04.004 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Self-citationDevelopment and Preliminary Validation of a Comprehensive Marijuana Motives Questionnaire
Lee, C. M., Neighbors, C., Hendershot, C. S., & Grossbard, J. R. (2009) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.15288/jsad.2009.70.279 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Blakey, S. M., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2016) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2016.07.002 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., Heimberg, R. G., Ecker, A. H., & Vinci, C. (2013) · Depression and Anxiety · doi:10.1002/da.22032 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Self-citationCollege Cannabis Use: The Unique Roles of Social Norms, Motives, and Expectancies
Buckner, J. D. (2013) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.720 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Self-citationMental health problems and interest in marijuana treatment among marijuana-using college students
Buckner, J. D., Ecker, A. H., & Cohen, A. S. (2010) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.04.001 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Self-citationTreatment of panic attacks using cognitive therapy without exposure or breathing retraining
Salkovskis, P. M., Clark, D. M., & Hackmann, A. (1991) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(91)90044-4 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Crosby, R. D., Wonderlich, S. A., Ecker, A. H., & Richter, A. A. (2015) · Drug and Alcohol Dependence · doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.12.022 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Self-citationMotives for cannabis use in high-risk adolescent users.
Fox, C. L., Towe, S. L., Stephens, R. S., Walker, D. D., & Roffman, R. A. (2011) · Psychology of Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1037/a0024331 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Abstinence and moderate use goals in the treatment of marijuana dependence
Lozano, B. E., Stephens, R. S., & Roffman, R. A. (2006) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2006.01609.x · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Social anxiety and cannabis use: An analysis from ecological momentary assessment
Buckner, J. D., Crosby, R. D., Wonderlich, S. A., & Schmidt, N. B. (2012) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.12.006 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Self-citationMarijuana-related problems and social anxiety: The role of marijuana behaviors in social situations.
Buckner, J. D., Heimberg, R. G., Matthews, R. A., & Silgado, J. (2011) · Psychology of Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1037/a0025822 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Self-citationBlevins, C. E., Banes, K. E., Stephens, R. S., Walker, D. D., & Roffman, R. A. (2016) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.02.005 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2014) · American Journal on Addictions · doi:10.1111/j.1521-0391.2014.12150.x · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationEcker, A. H., & Buckner, J. D. (2014) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.15288/jsad.2014.75.74 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Self-citationLinden, A. N., Lau‐Barraco, C., & Milletich, R. J. (2013) · Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs · doi:10.15288/jsad.2013.74.413 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., Jeffries, E. R., Terlecki, M. A., & Ecker, A. H. (2016) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445515610315 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationBuckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Ecker, A. H., Jeffries, E. R., Lemke, A. W., Dean, K. E., Businelle, M. S., & Gallagher, M. W. (2017) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.02.014 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationBuckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Schmidt, N. B., Carroll, K. M., Schatschneider, C. W., & Crapanzano, K. A. (2013) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.10.023 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationSafety aid use and social anxiety symptoms: The mediating role of perceived control
Korte, K. J., Unruh, A. S., Oglesby, M. E., & Schmidt, N. B. (2015) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2015.06.006 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Comorbid Cannabis Use and Anxiety Disorders
Buckner, J. D., Ecker, A. H., Beighley, J. S., Zvolensky, M. J., Schmidt, N. B., Shah, S. M., & Carroll, K. M. (2015) · Clinical Case Studies · doi:10.1177/1534650115590857 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Bresin, K., & Mekawi, Y. (2019) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106102 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Ecker, A. H., Schmidt, N. B., Lewis, E. M., Paulus, D. J., Lopez-Gamundi, P., Crapanzano, K. A., & Bakhshaie, J. (2019) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.10.014 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Self-citationCannabis use and social anxiety in young adulthood: A meta-analysis
Single, A., Bilevicius, E., Ho, V., Theule, J., Buckner, J. D., Mota, N., & Keough, M. T. (2022) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107275 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Self-citationBiopsychosocial model social anxiety and substance use revised
Buckner, J. D., Morris, P. E., Abarno, C. N., Glover, N. I., & Lewis, E. M. (2021) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-021-01249-5 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Self-citationBuckner, J. D., Lewis, E. M., Terlecki, M. A., Albery, I. P., & Moss, A. C. (2019) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106184 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Self-citationSynthetic cannabinoid use among college students
Mathews, E., Jeffries, E. R., Hsieh, C., Jones, G. N., & Buckner, J. D. (2019) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.02.009 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationWorry, anxiety sensitivity, and electronic cigarettes among adults
Zvolensky, M. J., Mayorga, N. A., & Garey, L. (2018) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.08.087 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationSmoking and social anxiety: the role of false safety behaviors
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., & Lewis, E. M. (2019) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2019.1696396 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationOrr, M. F., Rogers, A. H., Shepherd, J. M., Buckner, J. D., Ditre, J. W., Bakhshaie, J., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2019) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548506.2019.1653485 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Self-citationShort, N. A., & Schmidt, N. B. (2019) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2019.05.012 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Buckner, J. D., Morris, P. E., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2021) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114126 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Self-citationSetoodeh, S., Khorsand, M., & Takhshid, M. A. (2020) · Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders · doi:10.1007/s40200-020-00560-x · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Alcohol-Related Problems Among Black Adults: the Role of False Safety Behaviors
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., & Scherzer, C. R. (2022) · Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities · doi:10.1007/s40615-022-01286-7 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Self-citationBuckner, J. D. (2024) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2024.101934 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationHeterogeneity In Women’s Trauma Histories: Impact On Substance Use Disorder Severity
Gallagher, C. E., & Brunelle, C. (2023) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1080/15299732.2023.2181476 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The Role of Safety Behaviors in the Relationship between Social Anxiety and Marijuana Use Problems
Mueller, N. E., McDermott, K. A., & Cougle, J. R. (2021) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.1922449 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Manu, E., Douglas, M., & Ntsaba, M. J. (2021) · South African Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v27i0.1615 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
False safety behavior use among Black adults
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Ferrie, M. L., & Morris, P. E. (2022) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2022.2139291 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Self-citationIntegrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Smoking Cessation
Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Walukevich‐Dienst, K., Lewis, E. M., Dean, K. E., & Zielinski, M. H. (2019) · Clinical Case Studies · doi:10.1177/1534650119859094 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationOrr, M. F., Heggeness, L. F., Mehta, N., Moya, J., Manning, K. F., Garey, L., Hogan, J., de Dios, M. A., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2022) · Addictive Behaviors · doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107509 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationBuckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Garey, L., & Businelle, M. S. (2025) · Substance Use & Misuse · doi:10.1080/10826084.2025.2506133 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationNizio, P., Clausen, B. K., Businelle, M. S., Ponton, N., Jones, A. A., Redmond, B. Y., Buckner, J. D., Obasi, E. M., Zvolensky, M. J., & Garey, L. (2024) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/52776 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationCognitive Behavioral Therapy for Comorbid Cannabis Use Disorder and Emotional Disorders
Buckner, J. D., Morris, P. E., Scherzer, C. R., Ecker, A. H., & Beighley, J. S. (2024) · CBT: science into practice · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-62971-6_3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationGarey, L., Jones, A. A., Nizio, P., Chen, T. A., Buckner, J. D., Redmond, B. Y., Businelle, M. S., Cheney, M. K., Obasi, E. M., & Zvolensky, M. J. (2025) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.brat.2025.104889 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationA Factor Analysis of the Marijuana Motives Measure in an Anxiety and Related Disorders Sample
Joshi, Y. M., Metcalfe, S., Alarachi, A., Scott, A. M., Ouellette, M. J., & Rowa, K. (2026) · Cannabis · doi:10.26828/cannabis/2026/000352
Nizio, P., Jones, A. A., Smit, T., Buckner, J. D., Redmond, B. Y., Businelle, M. S., Obasi, E. M., Zvolensky, M. J., & Garey, L. (2026) · Cognitive Behaviour Therapy · doi:10.1080/16506073.2026.2664879
Self-citation
- Authors
- Buckner, J. D., Zvolensky, M. J., Businelle, M. S., & Gallagher, M. W.
- Affiliations
- Louisiana State University (US)
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
- OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center (US)
- University of Houston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Buckner, Julia D.
- Venue
- The American Journal on Addictions
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-12-27
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 29-34
- ISSN
- 1055-0496 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0391
- OpenAlex
- W2776435414
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 1.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal on Addictions (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Civil War Book Review (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R34DA031937)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- cannabis use, cannabis-related problems, coping motives, anxiety, usage frequency, vulnerability factors, undergraduate students, indirect effects
- MeSH terms
- Marijuana Use, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Anxiety, Marijuana Abuse, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Models, Psychological, Motivation, Risk Factors, Safety, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
