Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 9, 2025
07:51
Administration of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Adolescent and Adult Mice
Published on: August 1, 2025
471
Sexual Minority Status and Marijuana Initiation during Adulthood: A Longitudinal Study Using Nationally
Dale S Mantey1, R Andrew Yockey2, Joseph G L Lee3
1School of Public Health, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|April 15, 2021
Summary
Sexual minority adults have higher odds of initiating marijuana use. This increased risk was specifically observed in females, suggesting sex may modify the relationship between sexual minority status and marijuana initiation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sexual minorities face elevated risks for marijuana use.
- Limited research exists on marijuana initiation among sexual minorities during adulthood.
- Understanding risk factors for adult-onset marijuana use is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sexual minority status as a risk factor for marijuana initiation in adults.
- To examine if sex modifies the association between sexual minority status and marijuana initiation.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Wave 1 and Wave 2 data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study.
- Inclusion of 10,756 adult never-marijuana users.
- Multivariable logistic regression models to assess the relationship and effect modification by sex, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- 1.1% of adults initiated marijuana use between study waves.
- Sexual minority status was associated with increased odds of marijuana initiation (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 1.57).
- This association was significant for females (aOR: 1.97) but not for males (aOR: 0.84).
Conclusions:
- Sexual minority status is a significant risk factor for initiating marijuana use in adulthood.
- Sex appears to be an effect modifier, with females showing a stronger association.
- Further research with adequate power is needed to confirm sex as an effect modifier and inform targeted public health interventions.
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
12.8K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
12.8K
01:27Ethnic Identity within a Larger Culture
138
Adolescents from ethnic minority backgrounds face a multifaceted journey in forming their identities, shaped by the intersections of cultural expectations and personal exploration. For these adolescents, identity formation involves not only typical developmental challenges but also navigating the perceptions and attitudes of the majority culture. As they grow, adolescents in ethnic minority groups often become increasingly aware of stereotypes, social biases, and discrimination, all of which...
138
01:26Longitudinal Studies
308
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...
308
02:16Surveys
16.2K
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
16.2K
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
12.1K
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
12.1K
02:12Relationship Formation
43.4K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
43.4K