Premium
Patterns of marijuana use and physical health indicators among Canadian youth
Author(s) -
Ames Megan E.,
Leadbeater Bonnie J.,
Merrin Gabriel J.,
Thompson Kara
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1002/ijop.12549
Subject(s) - young adult , psychology , adolescent health , physical health , early adulthood , developmental psychology , gerontology , clinical psychology , demography , psychiatry , medicine , mental health , nursing , sociology
We examine how trajectories of marijuana use in Canadian youth (ages 15 to 28) are related to physical health indicators in adolescence and young adulthood. Youth were initially recruited in 2003 ( N = 662; 48% male; ages 12 to 18) and followed for six waves. Five trajectories of marijuana use (Abstainers‐29%, Occasional users‐27%, Decreasers‐14%, Increasers‐20% and Chronic users‐11%) were identified. Chronic users reported more physical symptoms, poorer physical self‐concept, less physical activity, poorer eating practices, less sleep, and higher number of sexual partners during adolescence than other classes. Decreasers also reported poorer physical self‐concept and poorer eating practices than abstainers. Other trajectory classes showed few significant health problems. Chronic users also reported more acute health problems (i.e. serious injuries, early sexual debut, higher number of sexual partners, greater likelihood of having a STI) in young adulthood than all other classes contributing to costs of healthcare. Youth who engage in early, frequent and continued use of marijuana from adolescence to young adulthood are at‐risk of physical health problems in adolescence and young adulthood.