Following 701 individuals from age 10 to 22, those with the highest trajectory of social anxiety symptoms through adolescence were significantly more likely to use cannabis in adulthood, but not alcohol.
Child psychologists, pediatricians, school counselors, and prevention researchers targeting early anxiety intervention.
High social anxiety predicted cannabis use but NOT alcohol use
What the researchers found
Three social anxiety trajectories emerged: high increasing (15.5%), moderate (37.3%), and low (47.2%). The high increasing group predicted multiple adult mental disorders with striking odds ratios: SAD (OR 15.74), GAD (OR 13.08), depressive episode (OR 19.75), agoraphobia (OR 16.39). The high increasing group also predicted cannabis use but not alcohol use in adulthood.
Why it matters
The specificity of the cannabis finding (social anxiety predicted cannabis but not alcohol use) suggests that socially anxious youth may specifically seek out cannabis as a coping mechanism, not substances generally.
The numbers in context
701 participants tracked ages 10-22. Three trajectories: high (15.5%), moderate (37.3%), low (47.2%). High group ORs: SAD 15.74, GAD 13.08, depression 19.75, PD 8.43, agoraphobia 16.39, OCD 3.49. High group predicted cannabis but not alcohol use.
How the study worked
Longitudinal study following 701 individuals from ages 10-18 (social anxiety trajectories) to ages 19-22 (adult mental disorder diagnoses and substance use). Growth mixture modeling identified trajectory groups.
What this study cannot tell us
Self-reported social anxiety symptoms. Cannabis and alcohol use measured in early adulthood only. High trajectory group was relatively small (15.5%). Attrition over 12+ years of follow-up.
How to read the evidence
Long-term longitudinal study with clinical diagnoses as outcomes, strong statistical methodology.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
If childhood social anxiety specifically predicts adult cannabis use, early treatment of social anxiety could potentially prevent not only mental health disorders but also cannabis use problems.
Questions still open
- Does treating childhood social anxiety reduce later cannabis use? Why does social anxiety predict cannabis but not alcohol use, given that alcohol is also commonly used for social situations?
Common questions
Does childhood anxiety lead to cannabis use?
How strongly did social anxiety predict adult mental health problems?
Read the original research
Elevated social anxiety symptoms across childhood and adolescence predict adult mental disorders and cannabis use.
Comprehensive psychiatry, 115, 152302
Citation
Krygsman, Amanda; Vaillancourt, Tracy. (2022). Elevated social anxiety symptoms across childhood and adolescence predict adult mental disorders and cannabis use.. Comprehensive psychiatry, 115, 152302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152302
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