Reward sensitivity and outcome expectancies as predictors of ecstasy use in young adults.
Melanie J Smerdon, Andrew J P Francis
Addictive Behaviors December 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.07.027 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 125 |
| Population | Adults aged 18-35 recruited from RMIT University and via snowball sampling |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Key findings | Frequency of ecstasy use was significantly related to reward sensitivity and positive outcome expectancies, with expectations of increased confidence making the largest individual contribution in regression analysis. |
Abstract
Extending recent studies showing that sensitivity to reward and outcome expectancies are associated with problematic alcohol and cannabis use, we undertook to determine if similar relationships would hold for ecstasy. One hundred and twenty five males and females aged between 18 and 35years were recruited from RMIT University and through snowball sampling. Participants completed a questionnaire package measuring frequency, amount and first age of ecstasy use, sensitivity to reward and punishment as well as outcome expectancies relating to ecstasy use. Frequency of ecstasy use was significantly related to reward sensitivity (p<.05) and positive outcome expectancies (p<.01). Regression analysis revealed significant prediction of ecstasy use by study variables, with expectations of increased confidence making the largest individual contribution. Multiple intervention points are suggested by the results of this study, within a largely cognitive-based framework.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- What Do Young Adults Expect from the Recreational Use of Ecstasy (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine/Molly)? A Latent Class Analysis of a Convenience Sample of Dutch Young Adults European Addiction Research 2023
- Decision-making in chronic ecstasy users: a systematic review. European Journal of Neuroscience January 2017
- Neurochemical substrates of the rewarding effects of MDMA: implications for the development of pharmacotherapies to MDMA dependence. Behavioural Pharmacology April 2016
Cites 4
- Ecstasy (MDMA) in Recreational Users: Self-Reported Psychological and Physiological Effects Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental May 1, 1997
- MDMA, methamphetamine and their combination: possible lessons for party drug users from recent preclinical research Drug and Alcohol Review 2007
- Decision making as a predictor of first ecstasy use: a prospective study. Psychopharmacology April 2009
- Reward-related decision-making deficits and elevated impulsivity among MDMA and other drug users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence July 1, 2008