UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff KKeennttuucckkyy UUKKnnoowwlleeddggee Theses and Dissertations--Communication Communication 2013 MMAARRIIJJUUAANNAA BBEEHHAAVVIIOORRSS IINN TTHHEE AARRAABBIIAANN GGUULLFF ((GGCCCC)):: AAPPPPLLYYIINNGG TTHHEEOORRYY OOFF PPLLAANNNNEEDD BBEEHHAAVVIIOORR Nola Almageni University of Kentucky, [email protected] RRiigghhtt cclliicckk ttoo ooppeenn aa ffeeeeddbbaacckk ffoorrmm iinn aa nneeww ttaabb ttoo lleett uuss kknnooww hhooww tthhiiss ddooccuummeenntt bbeenneefifittss yyoouu.. RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Almageni, Nola, "MARIJUANA BEHAVIORS IN THE ARABIAN GULF (GCC): APPLYING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Communication. 18. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/comm_etds/18 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Communication by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. 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Nola Almageni, Student Dr. Donald Helme, Major Professor Dr. Timothy Sellnow, Director of Graduate Studies MARIJUANA BEHAVIORS IN THE ARABIAN GULF (GCC): APPLYING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR _________________________________ THESIS _________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the College of Communication and Information Studies at the University of Kentucky By Nola Almageni Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Donald Helme, Associate Professor of Communication Lexington, Kentucky 2013 Copyright © Nola Almageni 2013 ABSTRACT OF THESIS MARIJUANA BEHAVIORS IN THE ARABIAN GULF (GCC): APPLYING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR The theory of planned behavior is a great tool for understanding predictors of drug use, specifically marijuana. Although the theory has been applied in the U.S. and European context, research on the predictors of behavioral intention for marijuana use within the Arabian Gulf context is limited. This thesis provides an overview of the theory of planned behavior as used in the U.S. and European context. An argument for the need to better understand predictors of behavioral intentions to use drugs, in the Arabian Gulf Region, prior to developing interventions and preventions is presented. Data was collected from 95 participants between the ages of 18-25 who were from the six GCC countries. Participants had the option to complete the survey in English or in Arabic. Results of the study suggest attitudes are the strongest predictor for behavioral intentions to use marijuana. Knowledge and sensations seeking were not significantly related to behavioral intentions for marijuana use within the current sample. KEYWORDS: Theory of Planned Behavior, Behavioral Intention, Marijuana, Arabian Gulf, GCC Nola Almageni November 25, 2013 MARIJUANA BEHAVIORS IN THE ARABIAN GULF (GCC): APPLYING THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR By Nola Almageni _Dr. Donald Helme________________ Director of Thesis _Dr. Timothy Sellnow______________ Director of Graduate Studies November 25, 2013 3 To my Parents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “All  the  praises  and  thanks  be  to  Allah,  who  has  guided  us  to  this,  never  could  we  have   found  guidance,  were  it  not  that  Allah  had  guided  us”  (Al  A’raf,  43)                 A  fellow  grad  student,  and  good  friend  once  said,  “In  grad  school,  professors  will  pull  the   rug  from  under  you,  but  give  you  a  trampoline  so  you  bounce  back”.     I  cannot  thank  my  committee  members  enough  for  their  continuous  support  and   encouragement.     First  and  foremost  I  would  like  to  thank  my  Chair,  Dr  Helme  for  your  support  and   abundance  of  patience  as  I  navigated  my  way  through  this  thesis.  Second,  I  would  like  to   thank  my  committee  members.  Dr  Lane,  I  would  not  be  here  today  –  nor  would  I  have   started  grad  school  -­‐  without  your  encouragement  and  support.  Thank  you  for  your   knowledge,  for  educating  me,  helping  me,  comforting  me,  and  always  coming  to  my   rescue.  Dr  Frisby,  thank  you  for  your  guidance,  patience  and  encouragement,  but  most   of  all  thank  you  for  inspiring  me  and  pushing  me  to  do  my  best.     This  thesis  would  not  have  been  possible  without  the  support  of  so  many  friends  and   loved  ones.  Friends  who  became  more  than  family,  friends  who  shared  late  nights  with   me  at  the  library  and  in  the  Grehan  Grad  lounge,  friends  and  loved  ones  who  were   thousands  of  miles  away  but  continued  to  check-­‐in  on  me  and  encourage  me.  Words   cannot  express  how  grateful  I  am  for  all  the  love,  support  and  encouragement.     Finally,  I  would  like  to  thank  my  parents  and  siblings  for  always  being  there  for  me   spiritually  and  emotionally.  Without  you,  I  would  not  have  made  it  through  the  tough   times.  Thank  you  for  always  cheering  and  routing  for  me.  Especially  my  sister  Sarah,   thank  you  for  putting  up  with  me  through  the  stressful  times.     iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix Chapter One: Introduction and Rationale ........................................................................... 1 Chapter Two: Literature Review ........................................................................................ 8 Importance of theory for campaign development ................................................... 8 Theory of Planned Behavior ................................................................................... 9 Attitudes and Intentions ........................................................................................ 12 Perceived norms .................................................................................................... 14 Self-efficacy .......................................................................................................... 16 Knowledge ............................................................................................................ 17 Sensation seeking ................................................................................................. 21 Applicability of Western Evidence based interventions for the GCC .................. 23 Chapter Three: Methods ................................................................................................... 28 Subjects ............................................................................................................. 28 Research Design and Procedures .......................................................................... 29 Measures ............................................................................................................... 30 Positive attitudes ....................................................................................... 30 Perceived norms ........................................................................................ 31 Self-efficacy .............................................................................................. 31 Knowledge ................................................................................................ 32 Sensation seeking ..................................................................................... 32 Past drug use ............................................................................................. 33 Intention .................................................................................................... 33 Data Analysis Plan ................................................................................................ 34 Chapter Four: Results ....................................................................................................... 35 Hypothesis 1 .......................................................................................................... 35 Research Question 1 ............................................................................................. 36 Hypothesis 2 .......................................................................................................... 39 Chapter Five: Discussion .................................................................................................. 41 Implications ........................................................................................................... 42 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 45 Future Direction .................................................................................................... 47 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 49 Appendices Appendix A: Recruitment Form ........................................................................... 51 Appendix B: Consent to Participate in a Research Study ..................................... 52 Appendix C: Survey Script ................................................................................... 55 vi References ......................................................................................................................... 61 Vita .................................................................................................................................... 69 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1, Descriptive Table for Each of the Variables in the Modified TPB ................. 35 Table 4.2, Correlation Matrix  for Each of the TPB Variables .......................................... 36 Table 4.3, Regression Model for TPB Applied to the GCC (Includes Only Significant Predictors) ........................................................................................................ 36 Table 4.4, Regression Model for Modified TPB Applied to the GCC (Complete Model) . 37 Table 4.5, Regression Model for Sensation Seeking  on Behavioral Intentions ................ 38 Table 4.6, Results of Mediation Model ............................................................................ 40 viii