Correlates of Cannabis Use Disorders among urban women of color: childhood abuse, relationship with spouse/partner, and media exposure

ABSTRACT

Objectives

As the rate of cannabis use increases, it is expected that more individuals will develop a Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). Relatively little is known, however, about the psychosocial correlates of CUDs among racial/ethnic minority women. This study, therefore, examined correlates of CUDs among a cohort of adult African American and Puerto Rican women.

Methods

The sample consisted of African American and Puerto Rican female participants (N = 343), who have been followed by the Harlem Longitudinal Development Study from mean age 14 to mean age 39 years. The bivariate and multivariate associations between CUDs at age 39 and variables from 5 domains – demographics, earlier cannabis use, childhood abuse, the relationship with the spouse/partner, and media exposure – were assessed using logistic regression analyses.

Results

The results showed that, with the exception of demographic factors, variables from each of the domains (e.g., sexual abuse in childhood, arguments with spouse/partner, and hours of visual media exposure) were related to CUDs at age 39.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that in addition to treating CUDs, couples therapy may be indicated to strengthen the spousal/partner relationship, enlist the spouse/partner’s support for cannabis use cessation. Furthermore, frequency of visual media exposure may need to be reduced.

KEYWORDS:

• Cannabis Use Disorders
• African American and Puerto Rican women
• Correlates of Cannabis Use Disorders

Disclosure statement

The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant [5R01 DA 035408-04] awarded to Dr. Pahl and [5K01 DA041609] awarded to Dr. Lee, both from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.