First, descriptive characteristics of participants were evaluated with regard to trauma exposure and symptoms and marijuana use. Second, a series of zero-order correlations was conducted to examine associations among variables. Third, the mediating role of DT (i.e., DTS–total score) in the relation between PTS symptoms (i.e., PDS–total score) and marijuana use coping motives (i.e., MMM–Coping motives) was examined, using Baron and Kenny’s (1986) recommended test of mediation. Specifically, the test requires the following series of multiple regressions: (1) the predictor variable (i.e., PDS–total score) must be significantly associated with the criterion variable (i.e., MMM–Coping motives), as depicted by Figure 1–Path C; (2) the predictor variable (i.e., PDS–total score) must be significantly associated with the proposed mediator (i.e., DTS - total score), as depicted by Figure 1–Path A; and (3) when the predictor (i.e., PDS–total score) and mediator (i.e., DTS total score) are entered simultaneously into a third multiple regression, the mediator (i.e., DTS–total score) must be significantly associated with the criterion (i.e., MMM–Coping motives), as depicted by Figure 1–Path B; and the relation between the predictor and criterion is either
