Male college students were over 7 times more likely to use cannabis the day after experiencing cyber dating abuse victimization, while women showed no such association.
College health professionals, relationship violence researchers, cannabis prevention researchers
Male college students had 7.34x higher odds of cannabis use the day after cyber dating abuse
What the researchers found
Among men, experiencing cyber dating abuse victimization predicted a 7.34-fold increase in odds of next-day cannabis use (p < .001). Paradoxically, CDA victimization was associated with fewer drinks the following day for men. Among women, CDA victimization was unrelated to next-day cannabis or alcohol use.
Why it matters
This is the first study to identify cannabis use as a specific behavioral response to cyber dating abuse. The strong gender difference suggests men and women may use different coping mechanisms after relationship conflicts, with men turning to cannabis rather than alcohol.
The numbers in context
236 participants (73.73% women); 60 daily surveys; men: CDA predicted 7.34x odds of next-day cannabis use (p < .001); men: CDA predicted fewer drinks next day (B = -2.63, p < .001); women: no associations with next-day substance use; 43% of CDA events per year in college
How the study worked
60-day daily diary study with 236 college students in dating relationships (73.73% cisgender women). Participants reported daily alcohol use, cannabis use, and cyber dating abuse victimization experiences. Multilevel modeling accounted for within-person and between-person variation.
What this study cannot tell us
Small male subsample (26.3% of 236), daily diary relies on self-report, cannot confirm causal direction, college student sample may not generalize, cannabis use measured as yes/no without quantity
How to read the evidence
Novel daily diary finding but small male subsample and inability to confirm causal direction
When this study was published
Published 2025
The bigger picture
Cyber dating abuse is experienced by 43% of college students annually, making it one of the most common interpersonal stressors on campus. The finding that it drives next-day cannabis use in men connects two common college health concerns in a way prevention programs could address together.
Questions still open
- Why do men specifically turn to cannabis rather than alcohol after cyber dating abuse? Would addressing CDA victimization reduce cannabis use among college men? Do similar patterns exist in non-college young adult populations?
Common questions
Do college students use cannabis to cope with relationship problems?
Did women show the same pattern?
Read the original research
Does cyber dating abuse victimization predict next-day alcohol and cannabis use among college students?
The American journal on addictions, 34(3), 297-304
Citation
Brem, Meagan J; Shaw, T J; Tobar-Santamaria, Allison. (2025). Does cyber dating abuse victimization predict next-day alcohol and cannabis use among college students?. The American journal on addictions, 34(3), 297-304. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.13672
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