Abstract
Confinement by COVID-19 had negative consequences on adolescent mental health, including increased cannabis use. Cannabis is related to variables that influence health and well-being. Emotional Intelligence is associated with adaptive coping styles, peer relationships, and social–emotional competencies. In adolescence, peer selection plays a unique role in the initiation of substance use. However, there are no studies during a confinement stage that analyse the relationships between networks, Emotional Intelligence, and cannabis use. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the consumption and friendship networks of an adolescent classroom and their relationship with Emotional Intelligence, cannabis use, and gender during COVID-19 confinement. Participants completed different questionnaires for Emotional Intelligence, cannabis use, and the consumption and friendship network. The sample consisted of 21 students from 10th grade, of which 47.6% were consumers. The friendship network correlates with the consumption network, and significant associations between emotional repair and being a cannabis user. The regression model points to the friendship network as a significant variable in predicting the classroom use network. This study highlights the role of the Social Network Analysis in predicting consumption networks during a COVID-19 confinement stage and serves as a tool for cannabis use prevention interventions in a specific population.
Highlights
Numerous health-risk behaviours begin in adolescence [1], including cannabis use.In Spain, the age of onset of cannabis use is 14.9 years, where 3 out of 10 students aged14–18 years admit to having used it at some point, and 19.3% of them have used it during the last 30 days [2]
Approach, this study will contribute to understanding the behavioural patterns of young people during the period of home confinement due to COVID-19 and how these relate to cannabis use and Emotional Intelligence (EI)
The aim of the present study was to determine the relationships between cannabis consumption and friendship networks, EI, gender, and being a cannabis user in a sample of adolescent students from a network analysis approach during COVID-19 home confinement
Summary
Numerous health-risk behaviours begin in adolescence [1], including cannabis use.In Spain, the age of onset of cannabis use is 14.9 years, where 3 out of 10 students aged14–18 years admit to having used it at some point, and 19.3% of them have used it during the last 30 days [2]. In Spain, the age of onset of cannabis use is 14.9 years, where 3 out of 10 students aged. Adolescence is a period of vulnerability in which the reward system is changing [4]. Engaging in certain problem behaviours can change this system and lead to lifelong substance dependence [4]. In this regard, a review points to the important role of the adolescent reward system where gender differences exist, and points to the mesocorticolimbic pathway as central to changes in social reward and reward learning in adolescence. It confirms that these adolescent reward circuits are highly vulnerable to social stress and drug abuse [7]
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