Motivational Factors and Cannabis Use Intention among Juvenile Offenders: Direct, Mediating, and Moderating Effects

Abstract

Background/Aim: Ensuring that juvenile offenders (JOs) who stop consume cannabis during their detention remain abstinence after their sentence has been served is a fundamental preventive measure. The present study explores whether the variables of the motivational phase of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) predicted the intention not to use cannabis after the end of the detention period among JOs. It also analyzes the mediating effect of past behavior and the moderating effect of gender. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 JOs in detention centers in southern Spain (mean age =16.33 years, 70.6% male). Results: A multiple linear regression analysis confirmed the joint effect of motivational variables (risk perceptions, positive and negative outcome expectancies, and action self-efficacy) on intention. Except for positive outcome expectancies, all motivational variables were found to mediate the effect of age at onset on intention. Moderation analysis revealed that when risk perceptions and action self-efficacy were high, female JOs expressed a stronger intention not to use cannabis than their male counterparts. Conclusions: The results confirm the effectiveness of the HAPA for predicting the intention not to use cannabis among JOs after the end of their detention period. The present study lays the groundwork for future research, which should broaden the analysis to include the volitional stage of change and JOs serving other sentences involving less supervision and greater opportunities to use. The results presented here will help inform the design of preventive programs, with a gender perspective.

Keywords

• risk perceptions
• outcome expectancies
• action self-efficacy
• use cannabis
• health action process approach (hapa)
• juvenile offenders