Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the association between cannabis use (CU) and psychosocial functioning, operationalized here as academic achievement, economic prospects, social relationships and quality of life. So far, study results have been inconsistent. To clarify whether CU has an impact on psychosocial functioning, this article mainly reviewed prospective and longitudinal studies published since 2000 and examined whether studies controlled for confounding factors (e.g. socio-demographics, other substance use, psychopathology, social environment). The review suggested that when confounding variables are controlled for, the association between CU and psychosocial outcomes is generally small or non-significant. When significant associations remain, they are for chronic, dependent or early onset CU specifically, suggesting that the frequency of use and age of onset may be necessary elements to detect persistent, however small, psychosocial consequences. These results illustrate the importance of controlling for intra- and inter-individual differences to examine the link between CU and later psychosocial functioning. Results also suggest that policy and prevention efforts should consider targeting the individual and environmental factors (e.g. early academic and cognitive functioning, social disadvantage, family functioning, personality, smoking) that account for much of the association between CU and later psychosocial problems, rather than, or in addition to, CU itself.

摘要

本文回顾了有关大麻使用 (CU) 与心理社会功能之间关联的文献，在此作为学术成就、经济前景、社会关系和生活质量进行操作。迄今为止，研究结果并不一致。为了阐明 CU 是否对心理社会功能有影响，本文主要回顾了自 2000 年以来发表的前瞻性和纵向研究，并检查了研究是否控制了混杂因素（例如社会人口学、其他物质使用、精神病理学、社会环境）。审查表明，当控制混杂变量时，CU 与心理社会结果之间的关联通常很小或不显着。当显着关联仍然存在时，它们特别针对慢性、依赖性或早发性 CU，表明使用频率和发病年龄可能是检测持续性（无论多么小）的心理社会后果的必要因素。这些结果说明了控制个体内部和个体间差异以检查 CU 与后来的心理社会功能之间的联系的重要性。结果还表明，政策和预防工作应考虑针对个人和环境因素（例如早期学业和认知功能、社会劣势、家庭功能、个性、吸烟），这些因素在很大程度上与 CU 和后来的社会心理问题之间存在关联，而不是，或者除了 CU 本身。这些结果说明了控制个体内部和个体间差异以检查 CU 与后来的心理社会功能之间的联系的重要性。结果还表明，政策和预防工作应考虑针对个人和环境因素（例如早期学业和认知功能、社会劣势、家庭功能、个性、吸烟），这些因素在很大程度上与 CU 和后来的社会心理问题之间存在关联，而不是，或者除了 CU 本身。这些结果说明了控制个体内部和个体间差异以检查 CU 与后来的心理社会功能之间的联系的重要性。结果还表明，政策和预防工作应考虑针对个人和环境因素（例如早期学业和认知功能、社会劣势、家庭功能、个性、吸烟），这些因素在很大程度上与 CU 和后来的社会心理问题之间存在关联，而不是，或者除了 CU 本身。