Digital parenting intervention especially helped parents who started using cannabis as teens
An app-based parenting program was particularly effective at reducing anxiety in parents of young children who had started using cannabis regularly during adolescence.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 356 parents of children ages 1.5-5, those who began regular cannabis use as adolescents had higher anxiety and depression symptoms regardless of current use. The Family Check-Up Online intervention was especially effective at reducing anxiety for parents with adolescent-onset cannabis use.
Key Numbers
356 parents of children ages 1.5-5; adolescent-onset cannabis use significantly associated with higher anxiety and depression after accounting for current use; FCU-O significantly moderated the relationship between adolescent-onset use and anxiety
How They Did This
Randomized controlled trial of 356 parents (screened for substance misuse or depressive symptoms) assigned to an app-based parenting program with telehealth coaching (FCU-O) or control. Baseline and 3-month follow-up assessments examined how adolescent-onset cannabis use moderated intervention effectiveness.
Why This Research Matters
This study suggests adolescent cannabis use may carry mental health consequences that persist into the parenting years, and that targeted interventions can help address these lasting effects.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that adolescent cannabis use predicts mental health challenges years later during parenting adds to evidence that early cannabis exposure may have long-lasting consequences beyond the period of active use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective self-report of adolescent substance use; 3-month follow-up is short; participants screened for risk factors so results may not generalize to all parents; no long-term child outcome data
Questions This Raises
- ?Do the mental health benefits of the intervention persist beyond three months?
- ?Could similar interventions help with other long-term consequences of adolescent cannabis use?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 356 parents in RCT of digital parenting program
- Evidence Grade:
- Randomized controlled trial with a moderation analysis, but relatively short follow-up and retrospective substance use assessment.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Adolescent-onset cannabis use and parenting young children: an investigation of differential effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry, 3 (2024)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05362
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did starting cannabis as a teen affect parenting years later?
After accounting for current cannabis use, parents who began using cannabis regularly as adolescents still had significantly higher anxiety and depression symptoms. This suggests adolescent cannabis use may create lasting vulnerability to mental health challenges that persist into adulthood.
How did the parenting app help?
The Family Check-Up Online (FCU-O) included an app-based parenting skills program with telehealth coaching. It was particularly effective at reducing anxiety for parents with a history of adolescent-onset cannabis use, suggesting this group may benefit most from targeted support.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05362APA
Hails, Katherine A; McWhirter, Anna Cecilia; Sileci, Audrey C B; Stormshak, Elizabeth A. (2024). Adolescent-onset cannabis use and parenting young children: an investigation of differential effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention.. Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/frcha.2024.1392541
MLA
Hails, Katherine A, et al. "Adolescent-onset cannabis use and parenting young children: an investigation of differential effectiveness of a digital parenting intervention.." Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3389/frcha.2024.1392541
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Adolescent-onset cannabis use and parenting young children: ..." RTHC-05362. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/hails-2024-adolescentonset-cannabis-use-and
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.