Parental sociodemographic profiles in relation to mental health, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use behaviors among a sample of US young adult parents

Authors

• Katelyn F. Romm, TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Electronic address: katelyn-romm@ou.edu.
• Morgan Speer, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• Darcey M. McCready, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• Shriya Thakkar, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• Rishika Chakraborty, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
• Patricia A. Cavazos-Rehg, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
• Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA; George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

5-1-2026

Journal

Addictive behaviors

Volume

176

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2026.108635

Keywords

Cannabis use; Cannabis use consequences; Cannabis use motives; Mental health; Parental sociodemographic profiles

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Although past-month cannabis use has increased among US parents, little work has identified factors associated with parental use. METHODS: We analyzed 2023 survey data from 1,247 US young adult parents. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified sociodemographic profiles of age, number of children, education, marital status, employment, and sex. Multivariable regressions examined associations between class, depressive/anxiety symptoms, and past-month cannabis use among all participants; and class, depressive/anxiety symptoms, cannabis use motives, use frequency, consequences, and driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis among those reporting past-month use. RESULTS: LCA identified 4 classes: Class 1 ('older married males with ≥ Bachelor's degree, full-time employment, 1-2 children', 18.4%); Class 2 ('younger single/cohabitating females with < Bachelor's degree, 1-2 children', 37.9%); Class 3 ('older married females with 1-3+ children', 30.3%); and Class 4 ('older single/cohabitating females with < Bachelor's degree, 3+ children' 13.3%). Among all parents, Class 2 and 4 (vs. 1) displayed higher odds of cannabis use; Class 2 displayed higher odds of depressive/anxiety symptoms, which were associated with past-month use. Among those reporting past-month use; Class 2 and 3 (vs. 1) displayed more frequent use and greater coping motives; coping motives were associated with more frequent use. Class 1 displayed greatest risk of use consequences and DUI of cannabis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide preliminary insights into parents most likely to use cannabis and experience consequences, highlighting the need for public health prevention/interventions that provide these parents with alternative coping resources.

APA Citation

Romm, Katelyn F.; Speer, Morgan; McCready, Darcey M.; Thakkar, Shriya; Chakraborty, Rishika; Cavazos-Rehg, Patricia A.; and Berg, Carla J., "Parental sociodemographic profiles in relation to mental health, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use behaviors among a sample of US young adult parents" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 8656.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/8656

Department

Prevention and Community Health