Anxiety and Cannabis-Related Behaviors Among Black/African American Undergraduates: The Role of False Safety Behaviors

<i>Introduction:</i> Black/African American individuals who use cannabis report greater increases in frequent cannabis use and more cannabis-related problems, indicating a need to identify malleable psychological factors that may play a role in cannabis-related problems to inform prevention and treatment. One such factor is false safety behaviors (FSBs), or behaviors geared toward decreasing anxiety short-term but that maintain anxiety in the long-term. Although emerging data indicate that FSBs are related to cannabis use in predominantly White samples, studies have not yet tested whether FSBs are related to cannabis use among Black/African American individuals who use cannabis. <i>Method:</i> Participants were 79 (64.6% cis-female) Black/African American undergraduates who endorsed current cannabis use and who completed an online survey. <i>Results:</i> All but three participants (96.2%) reported using non-cannabis FSB to manage anxiety. FSBs were positively related to cannabis use frequency, cannabis problems, and coping-motivated cannabis use, as well as anxiety and depression. The relations of anxiety with cannabis use frequency and use-related problems occurred <i>via</i> the serial effects of frequency of FSB use and coping-motivated cannabis use. <i>Conclusions:</i> Nearly all participants reported using FSB to manage anxiety. More frequent FSB use may play an important role in the relation of anxiety with cannabis misuse. Given that little attention has been paid to psychological factors related to cannabis use and related problems among Black/African American undergraduates, results can inform theoretical models and intervention efforts geared toward reducing risky cannabis use in this health disparities group.