Cannabis use can have profound impacts on health and well-being outcomes. These outcomes can be analyzed from the hedonic-eudaimonic well-being theory. Hedonic well-being refers to momentary pleasures, discomforts, and sensations, while eudaimonic well-being refers to fulfillment, actualization of goals, and developing meaningful relationships with oneself and others. Due to the widespread legalization and liberalization of cannabis in the U.S., it is important to explore how (ex)cannabis users perceive and experience these well-being factors. Furthermore, it is timely to learn how cannabis health outcomes are communicated among (ex)cannabis users. Studies have found that social media platforms can offer meaningful spaces for health communication and successfully encourage health improvement. Thus, this research is two-fold: (1) seeking to explore how (ex)cannabis use impacts hedonic and eudaimonic well-being and (2) to understand the online platform, Reddit, as an informal health communication channel. The data were collected from four cannabis-focused Reddit communities. The study follows netnographic methodology using constructivist grounded theory for data analysis (i.e., adhering to the initial, focused, and theoretical coding). In total, 2532 posts were collected from the various online communities. The current preliminary data analysis includes 435 coded posts. The preliminary findings indicate that cannabis use can have both positive and negative effects on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. For instance, the data suggests cannabis can contribute positively toward enhancing social connections while negatively impacting one’s purpose in life, which represent eudaimonic well-being meanings. Regarding hedonic well-being, cannabis’ positive impacts are related to pleasure, while negative outcomes are related to emotional outcomes. Additionally, the data shows that Reddit offers a supportive channel for discussion of sensitive topics related to one’s overall health. Previous studies have also found Reddit to be an effective platform for discussing cannabis experiences. These findings can inform cannabis education and shed light on digital health communication.
Reddit Netnography Exploring (Ex)Cannabis Users’ Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being Outcomes and Understanding the Role of Online Forums for Informal Health Communication
Category
Student Abstract Submission