Evaluation of the Associations between Prenatal Cannabis Use and Infant Developmental Outcomes at 12 Months of Age

Despite warnings from governing health bodies advising against using cannabis products during preconception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding, cannabis continues to be commonly consumed by pregnant individuals. Past research has found associations between children exposed to cannabis prenatally and adverse childhood development outcomes; however, some of these studies fail to control for important confounding variables, and many are becoming outdated. Using data from the Pregnancy During the Pandemic cohort, the current project evaluated prenatal cannabis use and its association with increased risk of developmental delay across five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal social skills. In addition, the association between prenatal cannabis use, birth weight, and instances of preterm birth is explored, and sociodemographic differences between cannabis users and non-users are described. Using multiple linear regression analysis, no significant associations were found between prenatal cannabis use and greater risk of infant development delay in any domain (ps > .05). Prenatal cannabis use was not associated with greater instances of preterm birth or lower birth weight. Cannabis users and non-users significantly differed on all measured sociodemographic variables.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Watts, Dana

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tomfohr-Madsen, Lianne

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Chaput, Kathleen
• Hill, Matthew
• Lebel, Catherine

• Prenatal substance use
• Infant development

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/116945