Cannabis and parenting : an exploratory analysis of the relationships between cannabis use, attachment, and parenting outcomes
Alcohol and other drug use have demonstrated negative impacts on parenting behaviours and parent-child attachment. A major shift in federal policy legalized recreational cannabis use for adults in Canada in October 2018. In light of shifting social norms and changes to policy for individuals of reproductive age, important questions arise about the impact of regular cannabis use (RCU) on parenting. Elucidating the influence of RCU on parenting is crucial not only in the context of supporting a healthy developmental environment, but in matters of custody and other litigation pertaining to parent-child interactions. In the present study 313 participants (25.9% male, 73.5% female, 0.6% other) who identified as living in Canada with at least one child under the age of six were recruited from parenting groups online and a Canadian panel company. 27.5% were regular cannabis users. RCU did not have a significant association with measures of parenting and attachment after controlling for problematic alcohol use (PAU) (all p’s >.05).
