Lifetime marijuana use and sexually transmitted infection history in a sample of Black college students

Differences in internalizing symptoms between those with and without Cannabis Use Disorder among HBCU undergraduate students

OBJECTIVE

To determine the differences in internalizing symptoms between those who met criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and those who did not in young adults attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

PARTICIPANTS

The sample included 619 undergraduate students, with 110 (18%) who met criteria for CUD.

METHODS

Participants completed an online survey, which included demographic, anxious and depressive symptomatology, and substance use assessment.

RESULTS

Those who met CUD criteria reported more depressive symptoms (M = 22.83 ± 10.74) and anxiety symptoms (M = 45.70 ± 12.82) than their non-CUD counterparts (M = 19.17 ± 10.58; M = 40.57 ± 14.11, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Differences between those who met criteria for CUD and those who did not are consistent with previous literature and may aid in characterizing internalizing behaviors in HBCU students with CUD. Future research should examine the subgroups that may cycle through withdrawal symptoms, despite not having severe CUD. This subgroup may be at higher risk for psychopathology than their severe counterparts.

Cannabis use disorder severity and sleep quality among undergraduates attending a Historically Black University

Nearly one third of Americans experience poor sleep, which is associated with numerous deleterious health outcomes. Poor sleep may be exacerbated when an individual attends college, as they experience drastic shifts in lifestyle and sleep patterns. Previous research suggests cannabis has therapeutic potential for sleep disorders but may also impair sleep quality long-term. However, no study has examined the differences in sleep quality within individuals who meet criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). The purpose of the current study was to determine differences in sleep quality among undergraduate students who met criteria for mild CUD (n = 18), moderate CUD (n = 22), severe CUD (n = 16) and students who did not meet criteria for CUD (n = 244). Participants included 300 predominantly Black/African American undergraduate students (79% female), aged between 18 and 25 years. Each participant completed an online survey that included measures assessing sleep quality and CUD criteria. Employing analysis of covariance, the moderate CUD subgroup (M = 9.00, SD = 3.32) reported poorer sleep quality than individuals who did not meet criteria for CUD (M = 6.93, SD = 3.03). Interestingly, the severe CUD subgroup (M = 6.75, SD = 2.52) reported similar sleep quality to individuals who did not meet criteria for CUD (M = 6.93, SD = 3.03). Individuals meeting criteria for mild and moderate CUD reported the poorest sleep quality among the groups, suggesting a differentiation within CUD severity. Future research should assess withdrawal and cannabis use frequency among individuals who meet criteria for CUD to further elucidate disturbances in sleep quality among those with CUD.

Self-Reported Lifetime Violence Exposure and Self-Compassion Associated With Satisfaction of Life in Historically Black College and University Students

In the United States, approximately 25% of minors have witnessed a violent act, specifically physical assault. African Americans from under-served backgrounds are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to be exposed to traumatic events. However, there is scant literature examining violence exposure, SC, and life satisfaction collectively, specifically in an African American college sample. The current study sought to determine the associations among violence exposure, SC components, and life satisfaction in an African American college sample. The current sample was comprised of 356 participants (80% female) with a mean age of 20.23 (SD = 1.70). Eighty-eight participants (25%) reported being exposed to violence in their lifetime. Employing logistic regression, we determined violence exposed individuals were less likely to report high satisfaction of life than their non-exposed counterparts (OR = 0.58, 95% CIs = 0.33, 1.00). Individuals with high level of self-kindness were approximately two times more likely to have higher satisfaction of life (OR = 2.48; CI = 1.52, 4.05) compared to their low level self-kindness counterparts and in the presence of demographic covariates. These findings may educate and increase awareness of the impacts of traumatic events. This education could lead to the implementation of interventions to build upon overall well-being in order increase life satisfaction in college students.

Assessing the validity of the Self-Report Webexec Questionnaire: Self-report vs performance neurocognitive inferences

The Webexec is a self-reported neuropsychological measure, which previous research suggests is associated with personality and executive functions. Though the Webexec could be useful for brief neuropsychological assessment, there is limited literature examining its validity. The current study's purpose was to determine Webexec's validity and association with mood symptomatology in two Historically Black College or University (HBCU) undergraduate student samples. Study 1 employed a neurocognitive battery for convergent validity testing, while the second study utilized psychological measures to determine the Webexec's association with mood-based symptomatology. Study 1 included 149 participants, with a mean age of 20.08 (SD = 1.75) years. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Webexec, and a neuropsychological battery. The neuropsychological battery measured verbal fluency, visual scanning, and working memory. The Webexec was positively associated with working memory (r = 0.18, p = 0.03), but no other neuropsychological measures. Study 2 utilized an online survey with 799 HBCU participants. Results suggest Webexec was associated with depressive symptomatology (r = 0.41, p = 0.01), anxiety symptomatology (r = 0.39, p = 0.01), and impulsivity (r = 0.21, p = 0.01). Taken together, results from both studies suggest the Webexec is not consistently associated with performance measures of executive function and maybe more consistent with self-reported psychological symptoms.

Adolescent Marijuana Use and Related Risk Behaviors, National Findings From 2015 to 2017

INTRODUCTION

As policies legalizing nonmedical marijuana have increased in states, understanding the implications of marijuana use among adolescents is increasingly important. This study uses nationally representative data to assess behavioral risk factors among students with different patterns of marijuana use.

METHODS

Data from the 2015 and 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, cross-sectional surveys conducted among a nationally representative sample of students in Grades 9-12 (n=30,389), were used to examine the association between self-reported current marijuana use status and self-report of 30 risk behaviors across 3 domains: substance use, injury/violence, and sexual health. Among current marijuana users, authors assessed differences between established (≥100 lifetime uses) and nonestablished (<100 uses) users. Multivariable models were used to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios. Data were analyzed in 2019.

RESULTS

Current marijuana users (regardless of use pattern) had a significantly greater likelihood of engaging in 27 of the 30 behaviors assessed across the 3 domains than the noncurrent users. Those with established use patterns (versus nonestablished) had a greater risk of lifetime use of most other substances (licit and illicit, including tobacco, alcohol, heroin, misuse of opioids), some injury/violence behaviors (including driving while using marijuana and suicide ideation and attempt), and sexual risk behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Both established and nonestablished patterns of adolescent marijuana use are associated with a number of other risky behaviors. In addition to interventions focused on preventing youth initiation of marijuana, clinicians and public health professionals should consider interventions to help adolescents who have nonestablished use patterns to avoid continued, established use.

Integrating Individual and Contextual Factors to Explain Disparities in HIV/STI Among Heterosexual African American Youth: A Contemporary Literature Review and Social Ecological Model

Heterosexual African American youth face substantial disparities in sexual health consequences such as HIV and STI. Based on the social ecological framework, the current paper provides a comprehensive, narrative review of the past 14 years of literature examining HIV/STI risk, including risky sexual behavior, among heterosexual African American youth and a conceptual model of risk among this population. The review found that individual psychological and biological factors are insufficient to explain the sexual health disparities faced by this group; instead, structural disadvantage, interpersonal risk, and community dysfunction contribute to the disparity in HIV/STI outcomes directly and indirectly through individual psychological factors. The conceptual model presented suggests that for African American youth, (1) HIV/STI risk commonly begins at the structural level and trickles down to the community, social, and individual levels, (2) risk works in a positive feedback system such that downstream effects compound the influence of structural risks, and (3) contextual and individual risk factors must be considered within the advanced stage of the epidemic facing this population. Despite advanced HIV and STI epidemics among heterosexual African American youth, multisystemic interventions that target structural risk factors and their downstream effects are posited to reduce the disparity among this high-risk population.

What Every Pediatric Gynecologist Should Know About Marijuana Use in Adolescents

Use of marijuana in adolescent girls is common and shows no sign of decreasing. With recent trends toward legalization of "recreational" and "medical" marijuana products, adolescents are increasingly faced with information and misinformation about the health effects of marijuana use. We review the current literature on the risks and potential benefits of marijuana use during adolescence with a specific focus on pediatric and adolescent gynecological conditions. Despite limited research on this topic, the many risks associated with marijuana use in adolescents, including negative effects on the developing brain and adverse reproductive, sexual health, and mental health outcomes, likely outweigh potential benefits in this population.

Substance use preferences and sexually transmitted infections among Canadian post-secondary students

BACKGROUND

In Canada, substance use is one of the key predisposing factors that may lead to risky sexual behaviors among post-secondary students. There is considerable economic burden and significant public health concern posed by substance use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of substance use preferences (alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs) and its association with STIs among Canadian post-secondary students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study using data from the National College Health Assessment II, Spring 2016 survey conducted by the American College Health Association. There were 31,642 sexually active participants, representing 41 post-secondary institutions in Canada. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were conducted to estimate the effect of substance use preferences on STIs.

RESULTS

This study found that participants reported being current users of alcohol (80%), cannabis (23%), and other drugs (8%). Additionally, 3.96% of the participants self-reported being diagnosed or treated for an STI in the last 12 months. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed current cannabis use to be significantly associated with self-reported STIs (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.6). There was a significant association between current drug use and STIs among male (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.27-4.06) and female participants (aOR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.52-2.30). Having multiple sexual partners, a history of sexual assault, being homosexual, Black, and >21 years old were also found to have a significant association with self-reported STIs (P-value <0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, significant associations were found between cannabis and other drug use and STIs among post-secondary students in Canada. The results of this study can help inform institutions of higher learning and public health professionals in the design, implementation, and evaluation of substance use and STI policies and effective school-based health programming.