Abstract

Background: Given that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance in the US, continuous research on patterns of cannabis use over the life course can help to ensure progress towards improving public health and reducing health inequalities across race/ethnicity. Thus, we examine racial/ethnic differences in cannabis use trajectories among males across two overlapping stages of the life course. Methods: We use data from two companion studies, the Rochester Youth Development Study (RYDS – a longitudinal cohort study that followed participants from adolescence into adulthood), and its intergenerational extension – the Rochester Intergenerational Study. For Life Stage 1, we consider cannabis use during the transition from adolescence to adulthood (spanning ages 13 to 33; 439 Black, 128 White, and 125 Hispanic males). Among these males who became fathers, we consider cannabis use during fatherhood (Life Stage 2 —spanning the period of time when their firstborn child was between the ages of 7 and 17—217 Black, 55 White, and 56 Hispanic males). Ordinal generalized estimating equations were specified to examine cannabis use trajectories during both stages of the males’ lives. Results: No significant differences in cannabis use as a function of racial/ethnic group were found during the transition from adolescence to adulthood (Life Stage 1). All groups had a peak of cannabis use in the early to mid-20’s followed by a decline in use. During fatherhood (Life Stage 2), cannabis use was stable for all groups, but Black fathers reported more frequent cannabis use on average than Hispanic fathers. Conclusions: The increase in cannabis use well past adolescence for all groups suggests the potential importance of intervention initiatives during the transition to adulthood. The more frequent use of cannabis by Black fathers warrants further study given the impact parental cannabis use can have on offspring.

摘要

背景：鉴于大麻是美国最常用的非法物质，对大麻在整个生命过程中的使用模式的持续研究有助于确保在改善公共卫生和减少种族/族裔之间的健康不平等方面取得进展。因此，我们研究了男性在生命历程的两个重叠阶段中大麻使用轨迹的种族/族裔差异。方法：我们使用来自两项配套研究的数据，即罗切斯特青年发展研究（RYDS——一项跟踪参与者从青春期到成年的纵向队列研究）及其代际延伸——罗切斯特代际研究。对于生命阶段 1，我们考虑了从青春期到成年过渡期间的大麻使用情况（年龄跨度为 13 到 33 岁；439 名黑人、128 名白人和 125 名西班牙裔男性）。在这些成为父亲的男性中，我们考虑了在成为父亲期间使用大麻的情况（生命阶段 2——跨越他们的第一个孩子 7 岁到 17 岁之间的时间段——217 名黑人、55 名白人和 56 名西班牙裔男性）。指定了序数广义估计方程来检查男性生命的两个阶段中的大麻使用轨迹。结果：在从青春期到成年期（人生阶段 1）的过渡期间，没有发现大麻使用作为种族/族裔群体功能的显着差异。所有群体在 20 年代初到中期都有大麻使用高峰，随后使用量下降。在做父亲期间（人生第 2 阶段），所有群体的大麻使用情况都稳定，但黑人父亲报告的大麻使用频率平均高于西班牙裔父亲。结论：所有群体在青春期后大麻使用的增加表明在向成年过渡期间采取干预措施的潜在重要性。考虑到父母使用大麻对后代的影响，黑人父亲更频繁地使用大麻值得进一步研究。