Adjustment, anxiety and loneliness in cannabis users and controls

Pages: 864-866
Ishita Pandya (Department of Applied Psychology, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi)

The prevalence of cannabis use has increased dramatically in adolescents and young adults. The common use of cannabis is most dangerous as users seem to think it is relatively harmless. However, cannabis may have adverse consequences for health and personal functioning. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of adjustment, anxiety and loneliness in frequent cannabis users and controls. The sample consisted of 60 males in the age range of 20-25 years from a non- clinical population using the convenience sampling method. The sample was divided into normal controls (n=30) who have never had cannabis and frequent cannabis users (n=30) who had been taking cannabis since the past 6 months or more and at least 5 times a week since the past 1 month. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory, Global Adjustment Scale and Perceived Loneliness Scale were administered on each participant individually. Group differences were estimated using independent t-tests. The results showed no significant difference between cannabis users and controls in feeling of loneliness. However, significantly higher levels of problems in emotional, family, health, occupation, sexual and social adjustment as well as significantly higher levels of anxiety was seen in cannabis users as compared to controls. These results suggest that cannabis use may have multiple consequences for the wellbeing of young adults.