Abstracts Category : Other

Factors That Predict Marijuana Use and Grade Point Average Among Undergraduate College Students

by Marlena B Coco

The purpose of this study was to analyze factors that predict marijuana use andgrade point average among undergraduate college students using the Core Institutenational database. The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey was used to collect data onstudents attitudes, beliefs, and experiences related to substance use in college. Thesample used in this study was delimited to include only full-time undergraduate students(N =111,664) and data were collected from 2011 to 2015. Six research questionsprovided the foundation of the study, which was operationalized by Astins (1993) inputenvironment outcome model (IEO).Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the sample in terms of individualand institutional characteristics, campus experiences, and substance use. Comparativeanalyses including one-way analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance wereconducted to determine statistical significance of differences between groups for gender, ethnic origin, marijuana use, and grade point average. Effect sizes were calculated foreach ANOVA to determine the magnitude of the effect and practical significance for thepopulation. Finally, inferential analyses using hierarchical, multiple regression wereconducted to predict marijuana use. The regression model was also used to explorefactors predicting medical marijuana and recreational marijuana use among students inthe 2015 cohort. Statistically significant results were reported for each regression model.Statistically significant at p < .001, the factors that explained 42.2% of the variance in thefinal model included: gender, ethnic origin, age, institutional control, campus locale,intercollegiate athletics, social fraternities and sororities, music and performing arts,alcohol use, illegal drug use change, perceived risk of harm from trying marijuana onceor twice, and perceived risk of harm from smoking marijuana regularly. Implications forpolicy, practice, and future research regarding marijuana use and academic performanceare included. 2017 Degree granted: Dissertation (Ph.D.) FloridaAtlanticUniversity, 2017. Collection: FAUAdvisors/Committee Members: Laanan, Frankie Santos Dr. (Thesis advisor), College of Education (Degree grantor).