Exploring Cannabis-Specific Parenting as a Mechanism of the Intergenerational Transmission of Cannabis Use and Cannabis Use Disorder

Abstract

Parental cannabis use disorder (CUD) is a known risk factor in the development of adolescent cannabis use. One potential mechanism is parenting behaviors. This study considered cannabis-specific parenting strategies as a mechanism of the relation between parental CUD and adolescent cannabis use. Pathways were examined using multilevel longitudinal mediation models (N = 363, mean age = 16.3 years) comparing adolescent offspring of parents who never used cannabis, parents who used cannabis without CUD, and parents with CUD. Parental cannabis use history did not significantly predict parental sharing of negative experiences with cannabis or parental strategies to prevent cannabis use. Cannabis-specific strategies did not successfully deter adolescent use. Parental sharing of negative experiences with cannabis use in fact predicted increased adolescent cannabis use. Cannabis-specific parenting did not reduce adolescent cannabis use, and sharing negative experiences was detrimental. Future studies should consider alternative mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of cannabis use.