Perceived Stress in Marijuana-using Adolescents and Young Adults
Mentor 1
Dr. Krista lisdahl
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
27-4-2018 1:00 PM
Description
In Koob’s and Volkow’s three-stage model of addiction, stress is hypothesized to play several key roles. Indeed, experience of early stressful life events significantly increases the risk of developing substance use disorders, and recent stress increases alcohol consumption. However, few studies have examined perceived stress in marijuana (MJ)-using youth. We hypothesize that marijuana- using youth will report higher levels of perceived stress compared to non-users. Data was collected from 80 adolescents and young adults with (n=39) and without (n=41) regular marijuana use (55% male, 66% Caucasian; aged 16-25). A series of multiple regressions were run to examine whether MJ-users reported increased perceived stress while controlling for alcohol, nicotine, depressive symptoms, and gender. We also examined whether gender moderated these effects. MJ users did not differ from controls in their perceived stress levels. Notably, recent symptoms of depression significantly predicted perceived stress (beta=.57, p<.001) in both groups. Although stress has been hypothesized as an important predictor of substance use, MJ users did not differ from controls in their current perceived stress. Individual symptoms of depression were a more robust predictor of individual’s perceived stress than their substance use status. Future studies may want to examine stress levels in MJ users with differing severity (recreational users, chronic users, and those with a MJ use disorder).
Perceived Stress in Marijuana-using Adolescents and Young Adults
Union Wisconsin Room
In Koob’s and Volkow’s three-stage model of addiction, stress is hypothesized to play several key roles. Indeed, experience of early stressful life events significantly increases the risk of developing substance use disorders, and recent stress increases alcohol consumption. However, few studies have examined perceived stress in marijuana (MJ)-using youth. We hypothesize that marijuana- using youth will report higher levels of perceived stress compared to non-users. Data was collected from 80 adolescents and young adults with (n=39) and without (n=41) regular marijuana use (55% male, 66% Caucasian; aged 16-25). A series of multiple regressions were run to examine whether MJ-users reported increased perceived stress while controlling for alcohol, nicotine, depressive symptoms, and gender. We also examined whether gender moderated these effects. MJ users did not differ from controls in their perceived stress levels. Notably, recent symptoms of depression significantly predicted perceived stress (beta=.57, p<.001) in both groups. Although stress has been hypothesized as an important predictor of substance use, MJ users did not differ from controls in their current perceived stress. Individual symptoms of depression were a more robust predictor of individual’s perceived stress than their substance use status. Future studies may want to examine stress levels in MJ users with differing severity (recreational users, chronic users, and those with a MJ use disorder).
