Among university students, impulsiveness and trauma amplify the link between problematic cannabis use and suicidal behavior
Among 539 university students, impulsiveness mediated the relationship between problematic cannabis use and lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts, while high levels of childhood trauma strengthened the cannabis-suicide attempt association.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Problematic cannabis use was moderately associated with suicidal ideation and attempts. Trait impulsiveness mediated the relationship between problematic cannabis use and both lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts. Previous trauma moderated the cannabis-suicide attempt relationship, with the association stronger among those with high trauma exposure.
Key Numbers
539 university students. Impulsiveness mediated cannabis-SI and cannabis-SA relationships. Trauma moderated the cannabis-SA association (stronger at high trauma levels).
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 539 university students examining associations between problematic cannabis use, suicidal ideation/attempts, trait impulsiveness (mediator), and childhood trauma (moderator).
Why This Research Matters
Rather than focusing solely on whether cannabis causes suicidality, this study identifies which cannabis users are at highest risk: those with trait impulsiveness and trauma histories.
The Bigger Picture
Suicide prevention in young cannabis users may be more effective when targeting the underlying factors (impulsiveness and trauma) rather than cannabis use alone.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions. University student sample not generalizable. Self-reported suicidal behavior. Problematic cannabis use measured by screening tool, not clinical assessment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would treating impulsiveness in cannabis users reduce suicide risk?
- ?Should trauma history be routinely assessed in cannabis users?
- ?Would longitudinal data confirm these mediation pathways?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Impulsiveness mediated; high trauma strengthened the cannabis-suicide link
- Evidence Grade:
- Cross-sectional with appropriate mediation/moderation analysis, but cannot establish causal direction.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Examining Risk Factors in the Cannabis-Suicide Link: Considering Trauma and Impulsivity among University Students.
- Published In:
- International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(15) (2022)
- Authors:
- Daneshmend, Ayeila Z B, Stewart, Jayme, Jarkas, Dana A, Franklyn, Sabina I, Gabrys, Robert L, Patterson, Zachary R, Abizaid, Alfonso, Hellemans, Kim G C, McQuaid, Robyn J
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03786
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use cause suicidal thoughts?
This study found an association but not direct causation. Trait impulsiveness appeared to explain the link: impulsive individuals were both more likely to use cannabis problematically and to experience suicidal thoughts.
Who is most at risk?
Young cannabis users with both high impulsiveness and a history of childhood trauma showed the strongest associations with suicidal behavior, suggesting these factors should be screened together.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03786APA
Daneshmend, Ayeila Z B; Stewart, Jayme; Jarkas, Dana A; Franklyn, Sabina I; Gabrys, Robert L; Patterson, Zachary R; Abizaid, Alfonso; Hellemans, Kim G C; McQuaid, Robyn J. (2022). Examining Risk Factors in the Cannabis-Suicide Link: Considering Trauma and Impulsivity among University Students.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159307
MLA
Daneshmend, Ayeila Z B, et al. "Examining Risk Factors in the Cannabis-Suicide Link: Considering Trauma and Impulsivity among University Students.." International journal of environmental research and public health, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159307
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Examining Risk Factors in the Cannabis-Suicide Link: Conside..." RTHC-03786. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/daneshmend-2022-examining-risk-factors-in
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.