Emotion Regulation, Motives and Personality Risk for Cannibis Use Problems in Emerging Adulthood: A Person-centred Approach

Legalization of cannabis in Canada and parts of the United States has created a need for additional research on factors that contribute to cannabis problems among vulnerable populations, including emerging adults (ages 18 to 29 years of age). There is substantial evidence pointing to cannabis use motives, personality, and emotion regulation difficulties as important correlates of cannabis-related problems, however, there is little research integrating these factors. This study sought to examine the combined effect of cannabis use motives, personality, and emotion dysregulation in a North American sample. Participants were 126 emerging adults (ages 19-29, 38.1 % women). Using latent profile analysis, a four-group solution was extracted. Two high risk groups were identified, suggesting that different patterns of motives for use, emotion dysregulation, and neuroticism might have greater combined risk than in isolation, and may be useful targets for future approaches to preventing or treating cannabis use problems in emerging adulthood.M.A