Young Adults With Cannabis Use Disorder Show Normal Social Cognition
In a controlled study of 115 young adults, those with cannabis use disorder showed no significant impairments in emotion recognition, face memory, or emotional differentiation compared to non-using controls.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
There were no significant effects of CUD on social cognition measures including emotion recognition, emotional differentiation, or immediate/delayed face memory (effect sizes d = 0-0.314). Neither problematic use severity nor cannabis dosage was associated with social cognition performance.
Key Numbers
83 CUD participants, 32 controls. Effect sizes ranged from d = 0 to 0.314 (all non-significant). No associations between CUDIT-R scores or cannabis grams/past month and social cognition. Controlled for nicotine, alcohol, anxiety, and recency of use.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional comparison of 83 young adults endorsing CUD and 32 controls. Assessed emotion recognition, emotional differentiation, and face memory tasks. Analyses controlled for hours since last cannabis use, nicotine/alcohol use, and trait anxiety.
Why This Research Matters
Social cognition deficits are often assumed to accompany substance use disorders and can affect interpersonal relationships and treatment engagement. This well-controlled study suggests these deficits may not be a defining feature of CUD in young adults, challenging assumptions about cannabis-related social impairment.
The Bigger Picture
If CUD does not impair social cognition in young adults, the interpersonal problems associated with cannabis use disorder may stem from behavioral choices and social contexts rather than from cognitive deficits in understanding others' emotions. This distinction matters for treatment approaches.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design at a single time point. The CUD group was young (18-32) and relatively well-educated, which may have protected against social cognitive decline. The sample was not treatment-seeking, potentially excluding more severe cases.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would social cognition deficits emerge in older CUD populations or those with longer use histories?
- ?Do treatment-seeking CUD patients show different social cognition profiles?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Effect sizes of d = 0 to 0.314 (all non-significant) across social cognition measures
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: well-controlled design accounting for key confounders, but cross-sectional with a relatively young, educated sample that may not represent all CUD populations.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study.
- Original Title:
- Social cognition in young adults who endorse a cannabis use disorder.
- Published In:
- Psychopharmacology (2025)
- Authors:
- Abbott, Gabrielle(2), Greenwood, Lisa-Marie(8), Bartschi, Jessica G(2), Dunsford, Suraya, Goodwin, Isabella, Paloubis, Anastasia, Quinones-Valera, Marianna, McTavish, Eugene, Verdejo-Garcia, Antonio, Cousijn, Janna, Chan, Gary C K, Solowij, Nadia, Lorenzetti, Valentina
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05855
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean cannabis does not affect the brain?
Not necessarily. Social cognition is just one aspect of cognitive function. This same research group found that CUD was associated with lower verbal IQ in a companion study. The results suggest social understanding is relatively preserved while other cognitive domains may be affected.
Why might young adults be protected?
The authors suggest younger age and higher education or IQ may serve as protective factors against social cognitive alterations. Older users with longer histories and more cumulative exposure might show different results.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05855APA
Abbott, Gabrielle; Greenwood, Lisa-Marie; Bartschi, Jessica G; Dunsford, Suraya; Goodwin, Isabella; Paloubis, Anastasia; Quinones-Valera, Marianna; McTavish, Eugene; Verdejo-Garcia, Antonio; Cousijn, Janna; Chan, Gary C K; Solowij, Nadia; Lorenzetti, Valentina. (2025). Social cognition in young adults who endorse a cannabis use disorder.. Psychopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-025-06890-z
MLA
Abbott, Gabrielle, et al. "Social cognition in young adults who endorse a cannabis use disorder.." Psychopharmacology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-025-06890-z
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Social cognition in young adults who endorse a cannabis use ..." RTHC-05855. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/abbott-2025-social-cognition-in-young
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.