IRBEH/Spit for Science Publications and Presentations
Document Type
Presentation
Original Publication Date
2025
Date of Submission
February 2026
Abstract
Background: There has been a significant rise in cannabis use among emerging adults. This study focuses on the risk factor that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) pose in predicting cannabis use and whether dimensions of ethnic-racial identity (ERI) act as a significant moderator. Prior research has shown that ACEs predicts a higher risk of cannabis use. Still, limited research has been done on whether ERI exploration, affirmation, and/or resolution mitigates this risky pathway. Methods: The sample included a total of 733 participants who were predominantly female (72.2%). Participants were 18 – 22 years of age when they began participating in the study. We tested ethnic-racial group differences between Black (N = 196), White (N = 357), and Asian (N = 180) participants. For this particular study, we sought to find the differences between only Black/African American, White, and Asian participants, as our sample was limited. Results: ERI exploration significantly moderated the associations between ACEs and cannabis use for Black & White participants (not significant for Asian participants). Low Levels of ERI Exploration: ACEs predicted greater cannabis use. High Levels of ERI Exploration: ACEs was not significantly associated with cannabis use. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that ACEs predicts cannabis use. This study found that for both Black and White students, high levels of ERI exploration acts as a protective factor against the relationship between ACEs and cannabis usage. These results provide new insight into the relationship between ethnic identity, adverse childhood experiences, and cannabis use among the young adult population.
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Spit for Science Publications and Presentations