Citation

Wotring A, Paprzycki P, Wagner-Green V, Wygonik QR, Blavos AA, Kruger J, Castor T, Diehr AJ, Glassman TJ. J. Am. Coll. Health 2018; ePub(ePub): 1-10.

Affiliation

University of Toledo, School of Population Health, College of Health & Human Services , Toledo , Ohio , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2018.1506790

PMID

30240330

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: With medical and recreational marijuana legislation expanding throughout the country, the need to educate high-risk populations is evident. The purpose of this study was to assess college students' perceptions of health communication messages comparing primary and secondary prevention messages concerning marijuana. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (n = 487) included college students, ages 18-25, enrolled in a Midwestern University.

METHODS: Participants assessed messages based on likeability, creativity, believability, persuasiveness, relevance, and usefulness using an online questionnaire that also included open-end comments.

RESULTS: Rasch analyses indicate that nonmarijuana users rated primary prevention messages higher than secondary prevention messages, whereas marijuana users ranked secondary prevention messages more favorably than primary prevention messages.

CONCLUSION: Interventions designed to address marijuana use among college students may be more effective if tailored toward user status. Specifically, primary prevention materials should be designed for abstainers, while secondary prevention messages that focus on harm reduction strategies should be used with marijuana users.

Language: en

Keywords

Health communication; college students; intervention; marijuana; primary prevention; secondary prevention