Cannabis use and the prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) among emerging adults are on the rise. Several indicators of cannabis use (e.g., quantity, frequency) as they relate to negative outcomes have been posited in the extant literature. Despite research examining links between indicators and cannabis outcomes, few assessments of cannabis use indicators exist. The Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory (DFAQ-CU) was developed to assess cannabis use across a range of factors. However, the factor structure of the DFAQ-CU has not been replicated. Further, the DFAQ-CU was modeled using reflective strategies despite formative strategies being conceptually appropriate. The present study utilized principal components analyses (PCA) and principal axis factoring (PAF) to evaluate the structure of the DFAQ-CU. PCA yielded a four-component solution; PAF resulted in a five-factor solution. Linear regression found significant relations between PCA components and PAF factors with CUD symptoms and cannabis-related problems; however, effect sizes were larger for the PAF suggesting possible misdisattenuation. The PCA components demonstrated evidence of discriminant and convergent validity with measures of cannabis and alcohol behavior. The study informs research and clinical work through the refinement of cannabis use assessment and enhancing our understanding of the importance of model selection.
Keywords: assessment; cannabis; emerging adults; principle components analysis; structural equation modeling.
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