Psychosocial Factors Related to Cannabis Use Disorders

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to explore the association between psychosocial risk and protective factors and cannabis use disorders (CUDs) in a cohort of African American and Puerto Rican young adults. A representative sample (N = 838) from the East Harlem area of New York City was assessed at 4 points in time (at mean ages 14.1, 19.2, 24.5, and 29.2). The psychosocial measures came from 6 domains: personality attributes, family, peer, work, neighborhood, and substance use. The psychosocial measures were assessed at each of the first 3 waves of the study, and CUDs were assessed at the fourth and final wave of the study. Multivariate logistic regression and a cumulative risk analysis were conducted. Increased psychological symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.39; P < .01), problems resulting from cannabis use (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.33–5.46; P < .01), frequent arguments with one's partner (OR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.09–3.10; P < .05), high levels of deviance (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.21–2.71; P < .01), and frequent acts of violence directed toward the participant (OR = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.01–1.42; P < .05) were all associated with an increased risk for CUDs. An increase in the number of risks was associated with an increase in the probability of having CUDs at the fourth wave (again, at a mean age of 29.2). A decrease in the number of risk factors may lead to a decrease in CUDs.

KEYWORDS:

• Cannabis use disorders
• cumulative risk index
• logistic regression analysis
• risk analysis

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant DA003188 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and Senior Scientist Award DA00244 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, both awarded to Dr. Judith S. Brook. The authors thank Dr. Martin Whiteman for his helpful comments.