SUBJECTIVE NORM, INTENTION AND CONSUMPTION OF MARIJUANA IN COLLEGE STUDENTS OF MÉXICO

Abstract

This article was aimed to determine the relationship between subjective norm with intention and marijuana consumption in a group of college students in northern Mexico. The study design was descriptive, co relational; data collection was obtained through the application of a Subjective Norm Instrument for marijuana consumption and analyzed with SPSS 18. Study participants were 558 students from nine faculties of a public university. Results showed that 15.1% had used marijuana at some time in their life. The prevalence of marijuana consumption was higher in men (?2=42.5, p<.001), older than 20 years of age (?2=11.64, p<.001) and students in engineering and agricultural sciences (?2=9.54, p<.023). The subjective norm is positively related with intention (rs=.224, p<.001). The subjective norm was higher in young people who displayed intention for consumption than those who have no intention (X=15.85 and X=6.99, U=20561.5, p<.001); in the same way, subjective norm was higher in young people that have used marijuana than those who have never used it (X=220.94 and X =7.05, U=28713.5, p<.001). The results are a contribution to the discipline of nursing knowledge and related areas, especially in the line of knowledge generation about addiction prevention, and in the future may serve as a basis for the rationale design of preventive programs.