Disruptive Behavior Disorders and Marijuana Use: The Role of Depressive Symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
The present study sought to examine the relations among disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs; ie, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], conduct disorder [CD], oppositional defiant disorder [ODD]), depressive symptoms, and marijuana use among a sample of late adolescents and emerging adults.


METHODS
A total of 900 students (75.8% female, 80.3% Caucasian, M age = 20) from a large public university completed an online survey.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that depressive symptoms mediated the relation between the marijuana use and past symptoms of ADHD, past diagnosis of ADHD, CD symptoms, CD diagnosis, and ODD diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Depressive symptoms represent a link between DBDs and marijuana use that is suggested, but not well documented in the existing literature. The current findings add to this evidence and suggest a need to assess individuals presenting with symptoms of DBDs for depressive symptoms, as this symptom pattern may result in a greater likelihood of marijuana use.
Department of Psychology, Barnwell College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Melanie C
MC
Morse
Department of Psychology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA.
Kari
K
Benson
Department of Psychology, Barnwell College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Kate
K
Flory
ADHD; CD; ODD; depression; marijuana use