Cross-national Validation of the Arabic Version of the Cannabis Use Intention Questionnaire (CUIQ) Among University Students from Egypt, Kuwait, and Tunisia

Abstract

Despite the widespread use of cannabis and its relative acceptance among Arab young adults, there still remains high social stigma in addressing these issues and providing treatment options. In addition, research on cannabis use among young adults from Arab nations is still scarce, which is in part due to the lack of valid and reliable measures that are tailored to the Arab social-cultural contexts. This leaves young cannabis users, health care providers, researchers, legislators and policy makers without the evidence needed to make informed decisions about cannabis use. For these reasons, this study aimed to translate and validate the Cannabis Use Intention Questionnaire (CUIQ) into Arabic in a sample of university students. A cross-sectional, web-based study was carried-out in three Arab countries (Egypt, Kuwait and Tunisia). A total of 2033 Arabic-speaking university students (mean age of 23.25 ± 5.00 years, 76.0% females) were administered an Arabic translation of CUIQ, along with other measures. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support to the four-dimensional factor structure of the Arabic CUIQ (i.e. Attitudes toward consumption, Subjective norms, Self-efficacy to abstinence and Cannabis use intention) in our sample of Arabic-speaking university students. Excellent reliability (internal consistency) was demonstrated for the total score (ω = .85/α = .85) and for each subscale (ω ranging from .88 to .97 and α ranging from .88 to .97). Measurement invariance was established across gender and country groups. Adequate validity was attested through significant correlations of CUIQ scores with greater cannabis use during the last 6 months, more favourable attitudes towards cannabis and more severe psychological problems. Making available an Arabic-validated version of this sound, brief, simple, easy-to-use and economic self-report measure of cannabis use intention is a valuable contribution to the medical and scientific community.