Gender-Diverse Early Adolescents More Likely to Experiment With Cannabis
Among over 10,000 twelve- and thirteen-year-olds, multiple dimensions of gender diversity were associated with higher odds of lifetime and new cannabis experimentation.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
More gender-diverse responses on gender identity, felt gender, gender non-contentedness, and gender expression were associated with higher odds of both lifetime and new cannabis experimentation. Different dimensions of gender diversity were associated with different substance use patterns, with gender non-contentedness showing the most consistent associations across substances.
Key Numbers
10,092 adolescents aged 12-13. Five dimensions of gender diversity assessed. Four of five dimensions (identity, felt gender, non-contentedness, expression) associated with higher odds of cannabis experimentation. Gender non-contentedness associated with higher odds across all three substances (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis).
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of 10,092 adolescents aged 12-13 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Gender diversity was measured across five dimensions. Logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic factors assessed associations with self-reported substance experimentation.
Why This Research Matters
Gender-diverse youth face unique stressors including discrimination and minority stress. Understanding substance use patterns in this population can inform targeted prevention efforts during the critical period of early adolescence when experimentation begins.
The Bigger Picture
This study moves beyond a binary transgender/cisgender framework to examine multiple dimensions of gender diversity. The finding that different dimensions predict different substance use behaviors suggests that "gender-diverse youth" is not a monolithic group when it comes to health risk.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Self-reported substance use among 12-13 year olds may be unreliable. The ABCD study, while large, may not be representative of all US early adolescents. Cannabis "experimentation" at this age is very rare, leading to small cell sizes.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do the associations between gender diversity and substance experimentation change as these adolescents age?
- ?Are minority stress mechanisms driving the association, or are there other pathways?
- ?Would gender-affirming interventions reduce substance experimentation in this group?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 4 of 5 gender diversity dimensions linked to cannabis experimentation
- Evidence Grade:
- Large well-established cohort study (ABCD) with appropriate statistical methods, though cross-sectional analysis and rare outcome limit conclusions.
- Study Age:
- 2024 study
- Original Title:
- Association between gender diversity and substance use experimentation in early adolescents.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 265, 112473 (2024)
- Authors:
- Shao, Iris Y(3), Low, Patrick(2), Sui, Shirley, Otmar, Christopher D, Ganson, Kyle T, Testa, Alexander, Santos, Glenn-Milo, He, Jinbo, Baker, Fiona C, Nagata, Jason M
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05704
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are gender-diverse teens more likely to try cannabis?
In this study of 12-13 year olds, several dimensions of gender diversity were associated with higher odds of cannabis experimentation, though the study cannot determine why.
Which dimension of gender diversity was most consistently linked to substance use?
Gender non-contentedness (dissatisfaction with one's gender) was associated with higher odds of experimentation across all three substances studied: alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05704APA
Shao, Iris Y; Low, Patrick; Sui, Shirley; Otmar, Christopher D; Ganson, Kyle T; Testa, Alexander; Santos, Glenn-Milo; He, Jinbo; Baker, Fiona C; Nagata, Jason M. (2024). Association between gender diversity and substance use experimentation in early adolescents.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 265, 112473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112473
MLA
Shao, Iris Y, et al. "Association between gender diversity and substance use experimentation in early adolescents.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.112473
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Association between gender diversity and substance use exper..." RTHC-05704. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/shao-2024-association-between-gender-diversity
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.