1.110 Marijuana Use in Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)-Exposed Young Adults and the Mediating Effect of Family Environment

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objectives of this presentation are: 1) to evaluate the relationship between adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure before age 18 years and marijuana use in adulthood; 2) to identify mediators of the association between ACE exposure and marijuana use; and 3) to describe patterns in resilience and depression across degrees of ACE exposure.MethodsThis cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data collected by the Georgia Prevention Institute during the Georgia Stress and Heart (GSH) study. All recruited participants were between 5 and 16 years of age in 1989. Records were identified with visit code sc16 ht15 (visit during which data were collected on ACEs, substance use, resilience, depression, and family environment). Regarding the study demographics, there were 431 valid records, 53.4% female, 46.4% male, 54.1% Black, and 49.5% White, with an average age of 28.3 years. ACE groupings are as follows: Group 0 = no exposure, 0 ACEs; Group 1 = low exposure, 1-2 ACEs; Group 3 = moderate exposure, 3 ACEs; and Group 4 = severe exposure, ≥4 ACEs.ResultsOf the independent variables measured, the ACEs score (coefficient 0.416; p = .032) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (coefficient 0.124; p = .024) were found to significantly increase marijuana use. There was also a significant interaction between ACEs and family environment (p = .04) such that family environment attenuated the association between ACEs and marijuana use. Pearson’s correlation demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between ACEs score and BDI score (r = 0.433; p < .01). BDI and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) scores were strongly negatively correlated (r = -0.483; p < .01).ConclusionsExposure to ACEs predicted marijuana use in young adulthood; however, this association was attenuated by family environment. Thus, family unit level intervention is central to interrupting the pathway from ACEs to substance use. Depression in young adulthood was also predictive of marijuana use. Strong correlation existed between ACE exposure and adult depression, while none existed between ACE exposure and resilience. These findings suggest the need to further evaluate marijuana use as a means of self-medicating symptoms of depression.ADOL, SUD, FAM ObjectivesThe objectives of this presentation are: 1) to evaluate the relationship between adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure before age 18 years and marijuana use in adulthood; 2) to identify mediators of the association between ACE exposure and marijuana use; and 3) to describe patterns in resilience and depression across degrees of ACE exposure. The objectives of this presentation are: 1) to evaluate the relationship between adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure before age 18 years and marijuana use in adulthood; 2) to identify mediators of the association between ACE exposure and marijuana use; and 3) to describe patterns in resilience and depression across degrees of ACE exposure. MethodsThis cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data collected by the Georgia Prevention Institute during the Georgia Stress and Heart (GSH) study. All recruited participants were between 5 and 16 years of age in 1989. Records were identified with visit code sc16 ht15 (visit during which data were collected on ACEs, substance use, resilience, depression, and family environment). Regarding the study demographics, there were 431 valid records, 53.4% female, 46.4% male, 54.1% Black, and 49.5% White, with an average age of 28.3 years. ACE groupings are as follows: Group 0 = no exposure, 0 ACEs; Group 1 = low exposure, 1-2 ACEs; Group 3 = moderate exposure, 3 ACEs; and Group 4 = severe exposure, ≥4 ACEs. This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of data collected by the Georgia Prevention Institute during the Georgia Stress and Heart (GSH) study. All recruited participants were between 5 and 16 years of age in 1989. Records were identified with visit code sc16 ht15 (visit during which data were collected on ACEs, substance use, resilience, depression, and family environment). Regarding the study demographics, there were 431 valid records, 53.4% female, 46.4% male, 54.1% Black, and 49.5% White, with an average age of 28.3 years. ACE groupings are as follows: Group 0 = no exposure, 0 ACEs; Group 1 = low exposure, 1-2 ACEs; Group 3 = moderate exposure, 3 ACEs; and Group 4 = severe exposure, ≥4 ACEs. ResultsOf the independent variables measured, the ACEs score (coefficient 0.416; p = .032) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (coefficient 0.124; p = .024) were found to significantly increase marijuana use. There was also a significant interaction between ACEs and family environment (p = .04) such that family environment attenuated the association between ACEs and marijuana use. Pearson’s correlation demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between ACEs score and BDI score (r = 0.433; p < .01). BDI and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) scores were strongly negatively correlated (r = -0.483; p < .01). Of the independent variables measured, the ACEs score (coefficient 0.416; p = .032) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score (coefficient 0.124; p = .024) were found to significantly increase marijuana use. There was also a significant interaction between ACEs and family environment (p = .04) such that family environment attenuated the association between ACEs and marijuana use. Pearson’s correlation demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between ACEs score and BDI score (r = 0.433; p < .01). BDI and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) scores were strongly negatively correlated (r = -0.483; p < .01). ConclusionsExposure to ACEs predicted marijuana use in young adulthood; however, this association was attenuated by family environment. Thus, family unit level intervention is central to interrupting the pathway from ACEs to substance use. Depression in young adulthood was also predictive of marijuana use. Strong correlation existed between ACE exposure and adult depression, while none existed between ACE exposure and resilience. These findings suggest the need to further evaluate marijuana use as a means of self-medicating symptoms of depression.ADOL, SUD, FAM Exposure to ACEs predicted marijuana use in young adulthood; however, this association was attenuated by family environment. Thus, family unit level intervention is central to interrupting the pathway from ACEs to substance use. Depression in young adulthood was also predictive of marijuana use. Strong correlation existed between ACE exposure and adult depression, while none existed between ACE exposure and resilience. These findings suggest the need to further evaluate marijuana use as a means of self-medicating symptoms of depression.