The purpose of this study was to analyze factors that predict marijuana use and
grade point average among undergraduate college students using the Core Institute
national database. The Core Alcohol and Drug Survey was used to collect data on
students’ attitudes, beliefs, and experiences related to substance use in college. The
sample 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 questions
provided the foundation of the study, which was operationalized by Astin’s (1993) input
environment outcome model (IEO).
Descriptive analysis was conducted to describe the sample in terms of individual
and institutional characteristics, campus experiences, and substance use. Comparative
analyses including one-way analysis of variance and two-way analysis of variance were
conducted to determine statistical significance of differences between groups for gender, ethnic origin, marijuana use, and grade point average. Effect sizes were calculated for
each ANOVA to determine the magnitude of the effect and practical significance for the
population. Finally, inferential analyses using hierarchical, multiple regression were
conducted to predict marijuana use. The regression model was also used to explore
factors predicting medical marijuana and recreational marijuana use among students in
the 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 the
final 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 once
or twice, and perceived risk of harm from smoking marijuana regularly. Implications for
policy, practice, and future research regarding marijuana use and academic performance
are included. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_38006 |
| Contributors | Coco, Marlena B. (author), Laanan, Frankie Santos (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 248 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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