Parental sociodemographic profiles in relation to mental health, cannabis use motives, and cannabis use behaviors among a sample of US young adult parents

Introduction Although past-month cannabis use has increased among US parents, little work has identified factors associated with parental use. Methods We analyzed 2023 survey data from 1,247 US young adult parents. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified sociodemographic profiles of age, number of children, education, marital status, employment, and sex. Multivariable regressions examined associations between class, depressive/anxiety symptoms, and past-month cannabis use among all participants; and class, depressive/anxiety symptoms, cannabis use motives, use frequency, consequences, and driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis among those reporting past-month use. Results LCA identified 4 classes: Class 1 (‘older married males with ≥ Bachelor’s degree, full-time employment, 1–2 children’, 18.4%); Class 2 (‘younger single/cohabitating females with ' Bachelor’s degree, 1–2 children’, 37.9%); Class 3 (‘older married females with 1–3+ children’, 30.3%); and Class 4 (‘older single/cohabitating females with ' Bachelor’s degree, 3+ children’ 13.3%). Among all parents, Class 2 and 4 (vs. 1) displayed higher odds of cannabis use; Class 2 displayed higher odds of depressive/anxiety symptoms, which were associated with past-month use. Among those reporting past-month use; Class 2 and 3 (vs. 1) displayed more frequent use and greater coping motives; coping motives were associated with more frequent use. Class 1 displayed greatest risk of use consequences and DUI of cannabis. Conclusions Findings provide preliminary insights into parents most likely to use cannabis and experience consequences, highlighting the need for public health prevention/interventions that provide these parents with alternative coping resources.