Sleep Problems and PTSD Symptoms Interact to Predict Marijuana Use Coping Motives: A Preliminary Investigation

The present study empirically tested the theory-based hypothesis that greater sleep problems and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity would both individually and multiplicatively predict higher levels of coping-motivated marijuana use. Twenty (15 women) adults (M-age = 34.00 years, SD = 11.96) who had PTSD and were currently using marijuana participated. Results indicated a positive independent relation with sleep problems and a significant interaction between sleep problems and PTSD symptom severity in relation to coping-motivated marijuana use. Results also indicated nonsignificant omnibus regression models for all other marijuana use motives. The results suggest that there may be segments of the PTSD population that are more likely to use marijuana to cope by virtue of individual differences in sleep problems.