Cannabis use and episodic memory performance among adolescents: Moderating effects of depression symptoms and sex.

OBJECTIVE: Cannabis use has been linked to poorer episodic memory. However, little is known about whether depression and sex may interact as potential moderators of this association, particularly among adolescents. The current study addresses this by examining interactions between depression symptoms and sex on the association between cannabis use and episodic memory in a large sample of adolescents. METHOD: Cross-sectional data from 360 adolescents (M age = 17.38, SD = .75) were analyzed at the final assessment wave of a two-year longitudinal study. We used the Drug Use History Questionnaire to assess for lifetime cannabis use, and the Computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Fourth edition to assess the number of depression symptoms in the past year. Subtests from the Wechsler Memory Scale, Fourth Edition and the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition were used to assess episodic memory performance. RESULTS: The effect of the three-way interaction among cannabis use, depression symptoms, and sex did not have a significant impact on episodic memory performance. However, follow-up analyses revealed a significant effect of the two-way interaction of cannabis use and depression symptoms on episodic memory, such that associations between cannabis use and episodic memory were only significant at lower and average levels of depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to our hypotheses, we found that as depression symptoms increased, the negative association between cannabis use and episodic memory diminished. Given the use of a predominantly subsyndromic sample, future studies should attempt to replicate findings among individuals with more severe depression.

Childhood adversity and co-occurring post-traumatic stress and externalizing symptoms among a predominantly low-income, African American sample of early adolescents.

Although there is strong evidence supporting the association between childhood adversity and symptomatology during adolescence, the extent to which adolescents present with distinct patterns of co-occurring post-traumatic stress (PTS) and externalizing symptoms remains unclear. Additionally, prior research suggests that experiencing nonviolent, negative life events may be more salient risk factors for developing some forms of psychopathology than exposure to violence. The current study used latent profile analysis to identify subgroups of early adolescents with distinct patterns of PTS, physical aggression, delinquency, and substance use, and examined subgroup differences in exposure to three forms of violent and nonviolent childhood adversity. Participants were a predominantly low-income, African American sample of 2,722 urban middle school students (M age = 12.9, 51% female). We identified four symptom profiles: low symptoms (83%), some externalizing (8%), high PTS (6%), and co-occurring PTS and externalizing symptoms (3%). A higher frequency of witnessing violence was associated with increased odds of membership in subgroups with externalizing symptoms, whereas a higher frequency of nonviolent, negative life events was associated with increased odds of membership in subgroups with PTS symptoms. Interventions aimed to address childhood adversity may be most effective when modules addressing both PTS and externalizing symptoms are incorporated.

Associations between potentially traumatic events and psychopathology among preadolescents in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study®.

The current cross-sectional study aimed to extend the literature on childhood adversity by examining the unique associations between potentially traumatic events (PTEs) and a range of mental health concerns, including domain-specific versus comorbid concerns. Participants were 11,877 preadolescents (47.8% female, 15.0% Black, 20.3% Hispanic/Latinx, Mage  = 9.5 years) taking part in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® . The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia was used to measure PTEs and caregiver- and child-reported mental health concerns. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used for the outcomes of interest. Overall, PTEs were consistently associated with increased odds of experiencing comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), internalizing disorders, and externalizing disorders, significant AORs = 1.34-4.30, after accounting for children's experiences of other PTEs and polyvictimization. In contrast, PTEs were generally not associated with meeting the criteria for diagnoses within only one domain (i.e., internalizing-only or externalizing-only diagnoses). We also found PTEs to be differentially related to the various mental health outcomes. In particular, witnessing domestic violence was consistently associated with children's psychopathology. Other PTEs, such as witnessing community violence, were not associated with children's psychopathology in the final model. Associations between PTEs and mental health concerns did not differ as a function of sex. Overall, the results support the notion that PTEs are associated with comorbid concerns rather than individual disorders. These findings have important implications for the screening of PTEs, continued research on the conceptualization of traumatic stress, and the importance of accounting for comorbidities across mental health domains.

Deviant Peer Factors During Early Adolescence: Cause or Consequence of Physical Aggression?

This study investigated reciprocal relations between adolescents' physical aggression and their perceptions of peers' deviant behaviors and attitudes. Analyses were conducted on four waves of data from 2,290 adolescents (ages 10-16) from three urban middle schools. Autoregression models revealed reciprocal relations between peer factors (i.e., friends' problem behavior, peer pressure for fighting, friends' support for fighting) and adolescents' reporting of their aggressive behavior. Bidirectional relations were also found between peer pressure for fighting and adolescents' frequency of physical aggression based on teacher ratings. Findings were consistent across sex, grade, and time. Findings suggest that multiple dimensions of peers' behaviors uniquely play a role in the development of adolescents' aggression and have important implications for interventions to reduce problem behaviors.

Bidirectional Relations between Witnessing Violence, Victimization, Life Events, and Physical Aggression among Adolescents in Urban Schools.

Although there is empirical evidence supporting associations between exposure to violence and engaging in physically aggressive behavior during adolescence, there is limited longitudinal research to determine the extent to which exposure to violence is a cause or a consequence of physical aggression, and most studies have not addressed the influence of other negative life events experienced by adolescents. This study examined bidirectional relations between physical aggression, two forms of exposure to violence-witnessing violence and victimization, and other negative life events. Participants were a sample of 2568 adolescents attending three urban public middle schools who completed measures of each construct every 3 months during middle school. Their mean age was 12.76 (SD = 0.98); 52% were female. The majority were African American (89%); 17% were Hispanic or Latino/a. Cross-lagged regression analyses across four waves of data collected within the same grade revealed bidirectional relations between witnessing violence and physical aggression, and between witnessing violence and negative life events. Although physical aggression predicted subsequent changes in victimization, victimization predicted changes in physical aggression only when witnessing violence was not taken into account. Findings were consistent across sex and grades. Overall, these findings highlight the need for interventions that break the connection between exposure to violence and aggression during adolescence.

Longitudinal relations between trauma-related psychological distress and physical aggression among urban early adolescents.

There is convincing evidence that trauma-related psychological distress and aggressive behavior are highly related among adolescents. The evidence is less clear regarding the direction of this relation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine reciprocal longitudinal relations between trauma-related distress and physical aggression. METHOD: A predominantly African American sample of early adolescents (N = 2,271; mean age = 12.9) living in an urban, under-resourced community participated in this investigation. The current study used autoregressive cross-lagged models to examine changes across four waves of data within each grade of middle school. RESULTS: Support was found for trauma-related distress uniquely predicting increased levels of physical aggression. This effect was consistent across gender and within and across middle school grades. Conversely, physical aggression did not predict changes in trauma-related distress. CONCLUSIONS: Violence prevention efforts should routinely screen for trauma-related distress.

Victimization, Aggression, and Other Problem Behaviors: Trajectories of Change Within and Across Middle School Grades.

This study examined trajectories of victimization and problem behaviors within and across three grades of middle school. Participants were 2,166 adolescents from three urban middle schools in the United States who completed measures of victimization, physical and relational aggression, substance use, and delinquent behavior. Latent curve analyses modeled changes in each construct across 12 waves collected every 3 months. In each case, the best-fitting model required separate linear slopes to represent changes within each grade and a factor representing decreases in the summers. Positive cross-construct correlations were found for intercepts, linear slopes, and measures within waves. The findings suggest strong associations among victimization and problem behaviors, and individual differences in their patterns of change both within and across grades.

Correction to: Dimensions of Peer Influences and Their Relationship to Adolescents' Aggression, Other Problem Behaviors and Prosocial Behavior.

Correction to: J Youth Adolescence (2017) 46:1351-1369. 10.1007/s10964-016-0601-4.

Dimensions of Peer Influences and Their Relationship to Adolescents' Aggression, Other Problem Behaviors and Prosocial Behavior.

Although peers are a major influence during adolescence, the relative importance of specific mechanisms of peer influence on the development of problem behavior is not well understood. This study investigated five domains of peer influence and their relationships to adolescents' problem and prosocial behaviors. Self-report and teacher ratings were obtained for 1787 (53 % female) urban middle school students. Peer pressure for fighting and friends' delinquent behavior were uniquely associated with aggression, drug use and delinquent behavior. Friends' prosocial behavior was uniquely associated with prosocial behavior. Friends' support for fighting and friends' support for nonviolence were not as clearly related to behavior. Findings were generally consistent across gender. This study highlights the importance of studying multiple aspects of peer influences on adolescents' behavior.

Motives for Cannabis Use and Risky Decision Making Influence Cannabis Use Trajectories in Teens.

The current study will examine the interactive effects of motives for cannabis use (i.e., health or recreational) and risky decision making (DM) on cannabis use trajectories among adolescents. Data from 171 adolescents, aged 14-17 at the initial visit (baseline), were prospectively analyzed across five time points approximately six months apart. Latent growth curve modeling and linear regression analyses were used. We found a significant interactive effect of "recreational motives" and risky DM on the rate of cannabis use over time. Specifically, among those less likely to use cannabis for recreational purposes, riskier DM was associated with a faster increase in the rate of use over time relative to those with lower risky DM. Additionally, a significant main effect showed that those with a greater proclivity to use cannabis for health purposes had higher initial levels of use at baseline and faster increases in the rate of use over time. Regardless of risky DM, using cannabis for health purposes is associated with faster increases in cannabis use escalation. Additionally, risky DM does impact the association between recreational motives for use and cannabis use trajectories. Future work should examine these associations with additional motives for cannabis use that have been previously validated within the literature.

An exploratory follow-up study of cannabis use and decision-making under various risk conditions within adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: Studies examining the associations between decision-making (DM) and cannabis use (CU) often use cross-sectional, adult samples, and composite scores or single tasks to assess DM. The present study explored differential associations between tasks assessing DM under various risk conditions (i.e., ambiguous vs. explicit; gain vs. loss) and CU frequency, CU-related problems, and CU disorder (CUD) onset across a 2-year period within adolescence. METHOD: Adolescents (n = 401, 90% Hispanic) aged 14-17 at baseline participated in five biannual assessments. CU frequency, CU-related problems, and CUD were assessed using the Drug Use History Questionnaire, Marijuana Problems Scale, and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, respectively. DM was assessed using the Iowa gambling task (IGT), Game of Dice Task (GDT), and Cups Task. We used latent growth curve modeling to examine bidirectional associations between DM and escalation in CU frequency and CU-related problems, and discrete time survival analyses to determine whether baseline performance across DM tasks predicted CUD onset. RESULTS: Baseline performance on the GDT predicted greater escalation in CU (ß = .200, p = .008) and CU-related problems (ß = .388, p = .035). No other significant associations were found. CONCLUSIONS: DM under explicit risk may be a more salient risk factor for escalating CU and CU-related problems than DM under ambiguous risk. Deficits in executive functioning could partially explain the results. Findings suggest that neurocognitive development should inform prevention and intervention efforts focused on reducing CU. Given the exploratory nature of the present study, replication of findings is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

An update on the assessment of culture and environment in the ABCD Study®: Emerging literature and protocol updates over three measurement waves.

Advances in our understanding of risk and resilience factors in adolescent brain health and development increasingly demand a broad set of assessment tools that consider a youth's peer, family, school, neighborhood, and cultural contexts in addition to neurobiological, genetic, and biomedical information. The Culture and Environment (CE) Workgroup (WG) of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study curates these important components of the protocol throughout ten years of planned data collection. In this report, the CE WG presents an update on the evolution of the ABCD Study® CE protocol since study inception (Zucker et al., 2018), as well as emerging findings that include CE measures. Background and measurement characteristics of instruments present in the study since baseline have already been described in our 2018 report, and therefore are only briefly described here. New measures introduced since baseline are described in more detail. Descriptive statistics on all measures are presented based on a total sample of 11,000+ youth and their caregivers assessed at baseline and the following two years. Psychometric properties of the measures, including longitudinal aspects of the data, are reported, along with considerations for future measurement waves. The CE WG ABCD® components are an essential part of the overall protocol that permits characterization of the unique cultural and social environment within which each developing brain is transactionally embedded.

Sex differences in bidirectional associations between conduct problems and cannabis use across two years of adolescence.

BACKGROUND: There is a large body of research that has identified bidirectional associations between conduct problems and cannabis use. Despite growing knowledge regarding comorbidities between conduct problems and cannabis use, it remains unclear whether these findings generalize across both males and females. The current study examined sex differences in longitudinal associations between conduct problems and cannabis use in a predominantly Hispanic sample of adolescents followed over a two-year period. METHODS: Participants were 401 adolescents (89.8% Hispanic, 46% female; Mage = 15.5) taking part in a two-year longitudinal investigation examining the associations between neurocognitive functioning and cannabis use. The sample consisted predominantly of youth selected for risk of cannabis escalation, with 90% reporting using cannabis, nicotine, or alcohol prior to baseline. Negative binomial cross-lagged regressions and simple slope difference tests were used for all analyses. RESULTS: We found support for bidirectional associations between conduct problems and cannabis use, controlling for demographics, covariates, and baseline frequencies. Simple slope difference tests revealed that there was a significant, positive association between baseline cannabis use and subsequent conduct problems among females but not males. In contrast, the association between baseline conduct problems and subsequent frequency of cannabis use did not differ as a function of sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our results underscore the importance of viewing cannabis use as a risk factor for maladjustment rather than solely as a consequence, particularly among female adolescents. Information gained from temporal sequencing of cannabis use and conduct problem symptoms can guide the selection of intervention programs for referred youth.

Differential Longitudinal Outcomes of In-Person and Cyber Victimization in Early Adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have tested a commonly held assumption that cyber victimization is more harmful than in-person victimization. This study examined differential longitudinal relations between in-person and cyber victimization and outcomes, including problem behaviors and distress symptoms. Possible moderation by gender and grade was also explored. METHOD: Participants were 1,542 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students (77% African American or Black; 21% Latino/a) who completed surveys in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. RESULTS: The two forms of victimization combined to predict increases in physical and relational aggression, cyberbullying, and delinquency, but victimization did not predict increases in distress or substance use. There were generally no differences in the strength of relations between in-person and cyber victimization for longitudinal outcomes, although there were some cross-sectional differences. Cyber victimization predicted increases in delinquency for boys but not for girls, but there were no other differences in effects across gender or grade. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was little support for the argument that cyber victimization produces greater harm than in-person victimization. Future research examining outcomes of cyber victimization should focus on longitudinal relations, given the different patterns of outcomes in this study's cross-sectional and longitudinal findings.

Assessment of In-Person and Cyber Aggression and Victimization, Substance Use, and Delinquent Behavior During Early Adolescence.

This study evaluated the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale-Adolescent Report (PBFS-AR), a measure designed to assess adolescents' frequency of victimization, aggression, substance use, and delinquent behavior. Participants were 1,263 students (50% female; 78% African American, 18% Latino) from three urban middle schools in the United States. Confirmatory factor analyses of competing models of the structure of the PBFS-AR supported a model that differentiated among three forms of aggression (in-person physical, in-person relational, and cyber), two forms of victimization (in-person and cyber), substance use, and delinquent behavior. This seven-factor model fit the data well and demonstrated strong measurement invariance across groups that differed on sex and grade. Support was found for concurrent validity of the PBFS-AR based on its pattern of relations with school office discipline referrals.

Dispensing Naloxone Without a Prescription: Survey Evaluation of Ohio Pharmacists.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a 200% escalation in the rate of opioid overdose deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, Ohio has been deemed the epicenter of the nation's opioid epidemic. In 2015, Ohio passed a bill that permits a pharmacist to distribute naloxone without a prescription. OBJECTIVES: This survey was aimed to discover pharmacists' knowledge of naloxone and Ohio law, perceived barriers that may prohibit naloxone dispensing, and Ohio pharmacists' general confidence, comfort, perception, and experience dispensing naloxone per physician protocol. METHODS: Pharmacists' knowledge of naloxone and Ohio law pertaining to dispensing naloxone; perceived barriers to naloxone distribution; and overall experience, willingness, comfort, and perceptions of personally supplying naloxone were assessed using multiple-choice and Likert-type scale questions through an e-mail survey. RESULTS: Overall, Ohio pharmacists were knowledgeable about naloxone and displayed confidence in their training and ability to provide patient education on naloxone. Pharmacists were less certain about Ohio law pertaining to naloxone distribution, especially those who have been in practice longer. Pharmacists indicated several barriers to dispensing naloxone and the need for more training. Younger pharmacists were more likely to report a concern with clientele who would frequent their pharmacy and moral and ethical concerns as barriers to dispensing naloxone. CONCLUSION: Additional educational programs should be delivered to Ohio pharmacists to inform them of the state law and policies. Continuing education programs that review substance abuse and attempt to reduce social stigma may assist with increasing naloxone distribution to those in need, especially, if directed toward younger pharmacists in Ohio.

Discrepancies between parent and self-reports of adolescent psychosocial symptoms: Associations with family conflict and asthma outcomes.

Discrepancies often exist between self-reported and parent-reported symptoms when assessing youth psychosocial functioning. Parent-child discrepancies in ratings may be important for understanding psychopathology and patterns of family functioning, particularly during adolescence and for youth with chronic illness. This study examined patterns of multirater reporting discrepancies in a pediatric asthma population. Adolescents (n = 707; 11-17 years old) and their primary caregivers completed ratings of adolescents' psychological symptoms. Latent profile analysis identified five profiles of parent-adolescent discrepancies, including one group with highly discordant ratings, two groups in agreement, and two groups with slightly discordant ratings. Adolescents who agreed with their parents on the presence of elevated symptoms and those who had significant discrepancies in ratings, such that parents reported elevated symptoms compared to youth self-report, had poor pulmonary functioning and elevated reports of parent-rated family conflict. Results suggest the need to assess internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescents with asthma using a multirater approach while also highlighting the complexity in interpreting patterns of discrepancies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Evaluation of the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale-Teacher Report Form for assessing behavior in a sample of urban adolescents.

This study evaluated the structure and validity of the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale-Teacher Report Form (PBFS-TR) for assessing students' frequency of specific forms of aggression and victimization, and positive behavior. Analyses were conducted on two waves of data from 727 students from two urban middle schools (Sample 1) who were rated by their teachers on the PBFS-TR and the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS), and on data collected from 1,740 students from three urban middle schools (Sample 2) for whom data on both the teacher and student report version of the PBFS were obtained. Confirmatory factor analyses supported first-order factors representing 3 forms of aggression (physical, verbal, and relational), 3 forms of victimization (physical, verbal and relational), and 2 forms of positive behavior (prosocial behavior and effective nonviolent behavior), and higher-order factors representing aggression, victimization, and positive behavior. Strong measurement invariance was established over gender, grade, intervention condition, and time. Support for convergent validity was found based on correlations between corresponding scales on the PBFS-TR and teacher ratings on the SSIS in Sample 1. Significant correlations were also found between teacher ratings on the PBFS-TR and student ratings of their behavior on the Problem Behavior Frequency Scale-Adolescent Report (PBFS-AR) and a measure of nonviolent behavioral intentions in Sample 2. Overall the findings provided support for the PBFS-TR and suggested that teachers can provide useful data on students' aggressive and prosocial behavior and victimization experiences within the school setting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).