Schoeler, T;
Theobald, D;
Pingault, J-B;
Farrington, DP;
Jennings, WG;
Piquero, AR;
Coid, JW;
(2016)
Continuity of cannabis use and violent offending over the life course.
Psychological Medicine
, 46
(8)
pp. 1663-1677.
10.1017/S0033291715003001.
Preview |
Text
Pingault_continuity of cannabis use and violent offending_.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Although the association between cannabis use and violence has been reported in the literature, the precise nature of this relationship, especially the directionality of the association, is unclear. Young males from the Cambridge Study of Delinquent Development (n = 411) were followed up between the ages of 8 and 56 years to prospectively investigate the association between cannabis use and violence. A multi-wave (eight assessments, T1–T8) follow-up design was employed that allowed temporal sequencing of the variables of interest and the analysis of violent outcome measures obtained from two sources: (i) criminal records (violent conviction); and (ii) self-reports. A combination of analytic approaches allowing inferences as to the directionality of associations was employed, including multivariate logistic regression analysis, fixed-effects analysis and cross-lagged modelling. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared with never-users, continued exposure to cannabis (use at age 18, 32 and 48 years) was associated with a higher risk of subsequent violent behaviour, as indexed by convictions [odds ratio (OR) 7.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.19–23.59] or self-reports (OR 8.9, 95% CI 2.37–46.21). This effect persisted after controlling for other putative risk factors for violence. In predicting violence, fixed-effects analysis and cross-lagged modelling further indicated that this effect could not be explained by other unobserved time-invariant factors. Furthermore, these analyses uncovered a bi-directional relationship between cannabis use and violence. Together, these results provide strong indication that cannabis use predicts subsequent violent offending, suggesting a possible causal effect, and provide empirical evidence that may have implications for public policy.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Continuity of cannabis use and violent offending over the life course |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1017/S0033291715003001 |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715003001 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Social Sciences, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Psychology, Clinical, Psychiatry, Psychology, Cannabis, epidemiology, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, violence, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, MARIJUANA USE, DRUG-USE, YOUNG ADULTHOOD, STRIATAL FUNCTION, COMMUNITY SAMPLE, BIRTH COHORT, RISK-FACTORS, ALCOHOL-USE, ADOLESCENCE |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1498357 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
