Associations Between Cannabis Consumption, Stability of Self-Perception, and Diet Quality

Cannabis is one of the most frequently used substances by young adults both in the United States and worldwide. This trend raises alarm for the harmful, under explored habits associated with cannabis consumption and their effect on overall wellness. Frequent cannabis use leaves young adults vulnerable to dependency and exposed to health issues. For many young adults, especially college students, the transition to independence is a challenging developmental period marked by heightened stress, shifting responsibilities, and increased decision-making demands. Such stressful periods may further encourage cannabis use as a coping strategy, reinforcing patterns that affect other aspects of health. Frequency of cannabis use may impact self-perception and diet quality, which in turn affect mental and physical health. This study assesses the interrelatedness of cannabis use, stability of self-perception, and diet quality, to shed light on an ongoing problem that continues to shape the well-being and long-term health trajectories of young adults. It is hypothesized that frequent cannabis consumption is positively associated with greater variability in self-perception and poor diet quality. A total of 1409 participants, aged 18 years or older, participated in the study. The survey included questions on basic demographics, diet quality, perception of self, and cannabis use. Data collection was performed using an anonymous survey questionnaire via Google Forms. The research survey was distributed through Binghamton University outreach events, group chats, and various other social media platforms including but not limited to GroupMe, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Yik Yak. Cannabis consumption was assessed using the Cannabis Use Disorder Test (CUDIT-R). The strength of self-perception was assessed using The Self-Esteem Stability Scale (SESS). Diet quality was evaluated using the Food Mood Questionnaire (FMQ). Data was analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient in SPSS version 28.0. The study revealed a positive correlation between frequent cannabis use and inconsistent perceptions of self (r = .210, p< .01). The data further showed a positive correlation between frequent cannabis consumption and poor diet quality (r = .158, p< .01) and a negative correlation between frequent cannabis consumption and strong diet quality (r = -.145, p< .01). Additionally, the results displayed a positive correlation between variable self-perception and poor diet quality (r = .168, p< .01) and a negative correlation between consistent self-perception and strong diet quality (r = -.081, p< .01), accentuating the interrelation of the two factors. These findings suggest that those who use cannabis are more likely to have a poor diet quality and fluctuations of self-perception. By emphasizing the potential issues associated with frequent cannabis use, this study contributes to the evidence that frequent use can adversely impact both psychological and nutritional health. This research has not received any funding. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.