Descriptive Norms, Self-Efficacy, and Avoidance of Simultaneous Alcohol–Cannabis Use and Cannabis-Impaired Driving: A Prospective Test of Social Cognitive Theory
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use (SAC) and driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) are prevalent risk behaviors among young adults who use cannabis. Drawing on social cognitive theory, we expected that perceiving peers´ avoidance of these behaviors would strengthen confidence to avoid them. This prospective study examined whether self-efficacy mediated the association between descriptive norms and SAC and DUIC avoidance, and whether these associations differed by sex. From 505 young adults who completed baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments, two samples were drawn: participants who used alcohol and cannabis (n = 382; Mage = 21.03; 39.3% women) and those who used cannabis and drove (n = 167; Mage = 21.70; 31.7% women) at both time points. Controlling for sex, age, university status, and baseline risk behavior, higher descriptive norms and self-efficacy were associated with greater avoidance of both behaviors. Self-efficacy mediated the association between norms and avoidance of both behaviors, and neither the association between norms and self-efficacy nor the indirect association differed significantly by sex. Sex moderated only the association between norms and DUIC avoidance, which was significant among men. Normative feedback interventions highlighting peers´ avoidance could target both perceived norms and self-efficacy, especially for DUIC among men.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7223213907