ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: PARENTAL MONITORING, SENSATION SEEKING AND MARIJUANA USE: CORRELATIONS AND AN INTERACTIVE MODEL

Title of Thesis: PARENTAL MONITORING, SENSATION SEEKING AND MARIJUANA USE: CORRELATIONS AND AN INTERACTIVE MODEL Gillian Pinchevsky, Master of Arts, 2009 Thesis directed by: Professor Sally Simpson Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice This study focused on the independent and interactive effects of parental monitoring and sensation seeking on marijuana initiation in college. Data from the College Life Study was used to examine 314 individuals who had not used marijuana prior to college. Descriptive statistics and t-tests analyzed significant differences between individuals who initiated marijuana in college (n=127) and those who did not (n=187). Logistic regressions tested theoretical models and an interaction between sensation seeking and parental monitoring on the likelihood of initiating marijuana. Approximately 40% of the sample initiated marijuana in college. Significant differences in multiple variables existed between initiators and non-initiators. Sensation seeking and parental monitoring independently influenced the likelihood of initiating marijuana, however their interaction was insignificant. Post-hoc analyses indicated a gender specific moderation. Future research should examine the influence of gender. PARENTAL MONITORING, SENSATION SEEKING AND MARIJUANA USE: CORRELATIONS AND AN INTERACTIVE MODEL by Gillian Pinchevsky Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts 2009 Advisory Committee: Professor Sally Simpson, Chair Dr. Amelia Arria Professor Brian Johnson