Depressive rumination – as a form of maladaptive ER strategies – can be defined as repetitive concentration on signs, antecedents and outcomes of negative affectivity, distress . Meta-analytic findings showed positive associations between rumination and maladaptive psychopathological outcomes, such as MDD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and substance use disorders . Moreover, within depressive ruminative thinking it is possible to differentiate the more maladaptive brooding and the less maladaptive reflection subtypes . These rumination subtypes can show differential relationships with CUD. For example, it was reported that brooding had positive, whereas reflection had negative effects on CUD . The emotional cascade model can provide a theoretical explanation on how rumination might contribute to externalizing behaviors,cannabis grow lights such as cannabis use . According to the assumptions of the ECM, there is a bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and rumination.
Higher levels of depressive symptoms can lead to increased rates of rumination, which in turn can conserve and increase the levels of depressive symptoms. As a result of this bidirectional mechanism, one might experience exacerbating negative affective symptoms. To cope with these distressful affective states and thoughts, reckless and impulsive behavior tendencies can emerge, such as self-harm, substance use or binge eating . In accordance with the ECM, previous findings suggested mediational mechanisms between depressive symptoms, rumination and cannabis use: higher levels of depressive symptoms can lead to elevated rates of ruminative thinking which positively influence more adverse outcomes of cannabis use via increased rates of coping motives . However, in addition to cannabis motives, it might be warranted to explore the function of other proximal cannabis use-related constructs on the relationship between anxious-depressive symptoms, rumination and outcomes of cannabis use. Distressful and negative affective states can be associated with limited self-regulation capacities, but attempts to regulate these affective experiences might further reduce self-control capacities which in turn can lead to dysregulation of the substance use behavior .
Moreover, high levels of negative urgency can also account for the link between negative affectivity and diminished self-control over substance use.Therefore, cognitive-behavioral constructs which are related to the ability to control or regulate cannabis use– such as cannabis use-related protective behavioral strategies and refusal self-efficacy – might have an important function on how anxious-depressive symptoms and rumination contribute to cannabis use outcomes. CPBS are techniques which can be used to ensure moderate and safer consumption patterns and to avoid negative consequences due to cannabis use . CRSE represents one’s perceived ability to resist to cannabis use in different situations, such as when there is an opportunity to use, cannabis grow tent or when someone is experiencing negative or distressful emotions . That is, the use of CPBS aims to reach moderate and non-risky cannabis consumption, whereas CRSE is rather an abstinence-focused construct. Existing research showed that cannabis use outcomes are negatively associated with CPBS and CRSE . Moreover, additive effects were also presented between CPBS and CRSE on cannabis use-related outcomes, for example, high levels on both CPBS and CRSE were associated with less harmful cannabis use . Previous studies showed that higher levels of CPBS are correlated with lower rates of NU and difficulties in ER, and with higher levels of adaptive ER strategies .
Moreover, the mediating effect of CPBS was also shown between emotional instability and cannabis use consequences . On the other hand, the mediating function of CPBS was not supported on the link between NU and cannabis use outcomes . To the best of the Authors’ knowledge, existing studies did not examine the associations between CRSE and ER processes. However, more empirical findings are available on the relationships of anxious-depressive symptoms and ER strategies with alcohol use-related protective behavior strategies and drinking refusal self-efficacy . Previous studies reported that anxious-depressive symptoms and NU are negatively correlated with APBS and DRSE, difficulties in ER are inversely related to DRSE, and adaptive ER strategies are positively associated with APBS . Moreover, significant indirect pathways were demonstrated via APBS between anxious-depressive symptoms and alcohol use outcomes and between adaptive ER strategies and alcohol use outcomes .Overall, existing studies mostly tested mediation models related to APBS and DRSE, and less empirical findings are available regarding the mediating function of CPBS and CRSE.