A cross-cultural comparison of factors associated with marijuana use among college students in the United States and Sweden

Abstract

Aims: Marijuana is a popular drug among U.S. college students. In Sweden, the prevalence of marijuana use has been relatively low but is increasing. Brief, personalized interventions have been efficacious in reducing substance use, including marijuana, among college students in the U.S. However, prior to implementation of U.S. interventions in Sweden, it is important to compare factors associated with marijuana use among college students in the two countries. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data are from baseline assessments of two large college student intervention studies in the U.S. (N = 3,753, 39% male) and Sweden (N = 2,280, 35% male). Measures: Past 30-day prevalence and frequency of marijuana use was analyzed in regard to relevant demographic factors. The moderating role of nationality was also examined. Findings: Results support previous findings indicating marijuana use is more common in the U.S. than in Sweden. Most demographic factors were similar across the countries, except for relationship status and work status, in which associations with number of marijuana use days (but not odds of any marijuana use) were stronger for Swedish college students compared to U.S. college students. Conclusions: Based on overall similarities between the U.S. and Sweden, comparable interventions might be recommended in both countries.