Assessing the Role of Cannabis Use on Cortical Surface Structure in Adolescents and Young Adults: Exploring Gender and Aerobic Fitness as Potential Moderators

Cannabis use in adolescents and young adults is linked with aberrant brain structure, although findings to date are inconsistent. We examined whether aerobic fitness moderated the effects of cannabis on cortical surface structure and whether gender may play a moderating role. Seventy-four adolescents and young adults completed three-weeks of monitored abstinence, aerobic fitness testing, and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). Whole-sample linear regressions examined the effects of gender, VO2 max, cannabis use, and their interactions on the surface area (SA) and local gyrification index (LGI). Cannabis use was associated with greater cuneus SA. Gender-by-cannabis predicted precuneus and frontal SA, and precentral, supramarginal, and frontal LGI; female cannabis users demonstrated greater LGI, whereas male cannabis users demonstrated decreased LGI compared to non-users. Aerobic fitness was positively associated with various SA and LGI regions. Cannabis-by-aerobic fitness predicted cuneus SA and occipital LGI. These findings demonstrate that aerobic fitness moderates the impact of cannabis on cortical surface structure, and gender differences are evident. These moderating factors may help explain inconsistencies in the literature and warrant further investigation. Present findings and aerobic fitness literature jointly suggest aerobic intervention may be a low-cost avenue for improving cortical surface structure, although the impact may be gender-specific.

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Gender Norms, Roles and Relations and Cannabis-Use Patterns: A Scoping Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17030947 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 947 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Natalie Hemsing ◽

Lorraine Greaves

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Young Adults ◽

Gender Gap ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Social Dynamics ◽

Gender Norms ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Use Patterns ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Currently, boys and men use cannabis at higher rates than girls and women, but the gender gap is narrowing. With the legalization of recreational cannabis use in Canada and in multiple US states, these trends call for urgent attention to the need to consider how gender norms, roles and relations influence patterns of cannabis use to inform health promotion and prevention responses. Based on a scoping review on sex, gender and cannabis use, this article consolidates existing evidence from the academic literature on how gender norms, roles and relations impact cannabis-use patterns. Evidence is reviewed on: adherence to dominant masculine and feminine norms and cannabis-use patterns among adolescents and young adults, and how prevailing norms can be both reinstated or reimagined through cannabis use; gendered social dynamics in cannabis-use settings; and the impact of gender roles and relations on cannabis use among young adults of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Findings from the review are compared and contrasted with evidence on gender norms, roles and relations in the context of alcohol and tobacco use. Recommendations for integrating gender transformative principles in health promotion and prevention responses to cannabis use are provided.

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Resting State Functional Connectivity in the Default Mode Network: Relationships Between Cannabis Use, Gender, and Cognition in Adolescents and Young Adults

NeuroImage Clinical ◽

10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102664 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102664

Author(s):

Megan M. Ritchay ◽

Ashley A. Huggins ◽

Alexander L. Wallace ◽

Christine L. Larson ◽

Krista M. Lisdahl

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode Network ◽

Resting State ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽

Default Mode

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669 Increased Nightmares During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Resilience and Emotions

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.667 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A261-A262

Author(s):

Jérémie Potvin ◽

Laura Ramos Socarras ◽

Geneviève Forest

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Negative Emotions ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Health Issues ◽

Resilience Scale ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact ◽

Tremendous Impact

Abstract Introduction COVID-19 had a tremendous impact on many aspects of our lives and has caused an increase in stress and mental health issues in many people. We have recently found that there was an increase in nightmares during the pandemic in young adults. Since emotions have been associated with both resilience and nightmares, the objective of this study was to investigate the role of resilience and emotional changes in the increase in nightmares observed during the pandemic, in a group of young adults. Methods Resilience, emotions and nightmares were assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, the Differential Emotions Scale-IV and an adapted version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Measures were administered to 209 young adults (18–25 years old, 76.1% females). Hierarchical multiple regression models were computed to examine the unique contribution of changes in positive and negative emotions during the pandemic to the increase in nightmares during the pandemic. Analyses were controlled for nightmares and emotions prior to COVID-19, and for gender. The sample was separated in two groups: resilient and less resilient young adults. Results Results show that in less resilient young adults, nightmares prior to COVID-19 (β=.79, p<.001) and increase in negative emotions (β=.21, p=.033) significantly predicted nightmares during the pandemic and explained 67.0% of their variance. In resilient young adults, nightmares prior to COVID-19 (β=.56, p<.001) and gender (β=-.15, p=.04) significantly predicted nightmares during the pandemic and explained 52.0% of the variance. Conclusion Our results show that increase in negative emotions during the pandemic is associated with an increase in nightmares in less resilient young adults, but not in resilient young adults. Furthermore, our results show that in resilient young adults, being a woman is associated with an increase in nightmares during the pandemic. These results suggest that resilience may be a protective factor in managing the impact of negative emotions on nightmares, but only in men. Support (if any):

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Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms Rather than Alcohol Exposure Predict Experiences of Cannabis Use Disorder Symptoms among Adolescents and Young Adults

Substance Use & Misuse ◽

10.1080/10826084.2020.1869262 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 56 (3) ◽

pp. 431-435

Author(s):

Lisa C. Dierker ◽

Arielle S. Selya

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Alcohol Exposure ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

Cannabis Use Disorder

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Generalized Joint Hypermobility and Anxiety in Adolescents and Young Adults, the Impact on Physical and Psychosocial Functioning

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050525 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 525

Author(s):

Janneke de Vries ◽

Jeanine Verbunt ◽

Janine Stubbe ◽

Bart Visser ◽

Stephan Ramaekers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Psychosocial Functioning ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Pain Catastrophizing ◽

Joint Hypermobility ◽

Adolescents And Young Adults ◽

P Value ◽

High Performing ◽

Generalized Joint Hypermobility ◽

The Impact

The purpose of this study was to study the association between the presence of generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) and anxiety within a non-clinical high performing group of adolescents and young adults. Second, to study the impact of GJH and/or anxiety on physical and psychosocial functioning, 168 adolescents and young adults (mean (SD) age 20 (2.9)) were screened. Joint (hyper)mobility, anxiety, and physical and psychosocial functioning were measured. In 48.8% of all high performing adolescents and young adults, GJH was present, whereas 60% had symptoms of anxiety. Linear models controlled for confounders showed that adolescents and young adults with GJH and anxiety had decreased workload (ß (95%CI) −0.43 (−0.8 to −0.08), p-value 0.02), increased fatigue (ß (95%CI) 12.97 (6.3–19.5), p-value < 0.01), and a higher level of pain catastrophizing (ß (95%CI) 4.5 (0.5–8.6), p-value 0.03). Adolescents and young adults with only anxiety had increased fatigue (ß (95%CI) 11 (4.9–19.5). In adolescents and young adults with GJH alone, no impact on physical and psychosocial functioning was found. Adolescents and young adults with the combination of GJH and anxiety were significantly more impaired, showing decreased physical and psychosocial functioning with decreased workload, increased fatigue, and pain catastrophizing. Presence of GJH alone had no negative impact on physical and psychosocial functioning. This study confirms the association between GJH and anxiety, but especially emphasizes the disabling role of anxiety. Screening for anxiety is relevant in adolescents and young adults with GJH and might influence tailored interventions.

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