The Mediating Role of High State Anxiety on the Association Between Cannabis Use and Sustained Attention

Abstract

Cannabis, a product derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, has become a subject of considerable scientific inquiry and public discussion due to its widespread use and its potential effects on cognitive abilities. Despite the increasing number of individuals using cannabis in India, there is a significant gap between the growing number of users and the scientific research focused on understanding the cognitive consequences of cannabis use. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of how cannabis use affects sustained attention and to investigate whether high state anxiety plays a role in this relationship among Indian cannabis users. To achieve this, the study used statistical T-tests to compare the average scores on the Digit Vigilance Test (DVT) between cannabis users and non-users. Additionally, the study conducted a mediational analysis to examine whether high state anxiety serves as a mediator in the link between cannabis use and sustained attention. The results of the study revealed that high state anxiety indeed has a notable direct effect (z=1.701) on the relationship between cannabis usage and sustained attention. However, it’s important to acknowledge that further investigations are necessary to establish the full extent of the mediation effect.