Cannabis Use Through a Developmental Lens: Perceptions of Cannabis Use in Emerging Adulthood

Rates of cannabis use are highest during emerging adulthood (EA) relative to other age groups, and researchers have found that involvement with substances influences EAs’ perceptions of this time of life. However, there is limited empirical research on how the experience of EA influences perceptions of cannabis use. Using a mixed methods approach, this research examined perceptions of cannabis use in EA and the relationship between cannabis use and critical tasks associated with this developmental period. In Study One, 182 EAs completed an online survey that examined relationships between the developmental context and cannabis use. Results of multivariate analyses indicated that certain core features of EA were associated with cannabis use problems, but not frequency of cannabis use. Specifically, viewing EA as a time of instability and cannabis use as related to this instability was associated with greater cannabis problems. Non-daily to daily use of cannabis was associated with viewing EA as a time to focus on others – a feature not typically associated with EA. In Study Two, 20 semi-structured interviews were completed in which EAs with current, lived experience using cannabis were interviewed about their conceptualizations of cannabis use and connections between their cannabis use and EA. Cannabis use was described according to whether problems were experienced, reasons for using cannabis, social context, frequency and quantity, and use in combination with other substances. The majority of the sample related their cannabis use to the developmental features of EA; however, they spoke about Arnett’s (2005) features in overlapping ways, rather than as mutually exclusive categories. Participants believed the conditions of EA were conducive to cannabis use, and used cannabis to regulate their EA experience and facilitate self-reflective practices. They also recognized ways in which cannabis use could interfere with their development. Conclusions. In this research, EAs described a breadth of cannabis use experiences, and most viewed their cannabis use as connected in some way to the developmental period of EA. The theoretical implications of these current findings for Arnett’s framework and the clinical implications for assessment, referral, and treatment of cannabis use are discussed.

Department dc:contributor.department

Applied Psychology and Human Development

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Campbell, Mallory Lelia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Goldstein, Abby L

• Cannabis
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental
• Emerging Adulthood
• Qualitative
• Quantitative

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/97337

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/97337