Emerging adulthood is a critical period marked by significant psychosocial transitions that often coincide with increased experimentation with psychoactive substances. A scoping review was conducted to synthesise existing literature to identify the factors associated with substance use behaviour among emerging adults within the African context. This review focuses specifically on African studies to address the critical underrepresentation of African contexts in literature on factors associated with substance use behaviour among Emerging Adults. This review was guided by the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and followed the PRISMA framework. 2410 peer reviewed published articles were identified, after screening 14 were included in the synthesis. The findings identified that substance use is rarely the result of a single factor but rather the convergence of individual vulnerabilities and broader social, environmental, and cultural forces.
Emerging adulthood is marked by unique characteristics that play a role in the development of substance use (SU) problems and access to treatment and recovery services. Consistent with the Life Course Health Development framework, emerging adults’ (EAs’) developmental characteristics, neurological and cognitive states, peer networks, personal definitions of addiction and recovery, and co-occurring mental health conditions all play a role in their SU, treatment, and recovery. This narrative review summarizes scientific literature on these key characteristics’ impact on EA services, as well as the current state of the science on treatment and recovery services for EAs. Based on findings, recommendations are made for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. For example, more research should focus on EAs’ educational and vocational pathways outside of traditional college environments, specific programs for EAs that are not solely offshoots of youth or adult services, and the specific needs and desires of EAs with SU problems.
The Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Iron Swords War have profoundly affected emerging adults. The present study examined associations between coping behaviors (active vs. passive) and the intensity of active behaviors, and secondary traumatic stress (STS) symptoms. In addition, it explored indirect associations between coping behaviors and STS symptoms (intrusion, avoidance, and arousal) through resilience and fear. A total of 525 participants aged 18–30 completed an online survey during the first months of the war. Active coping was associated with lower fear, higher resilience, and lower STS symptoms compared to passive coping. Path analyses further indicated indirect associations between coping behaviors and STS through fear and resilience, with fear consistently associated with all STS symptoms, whereas resilience was primarily associated with avoidance and arousal. The findings contribute to understanding coping processes under prolonged wartime stress and highlight implications for targeted mental health interventions for emerging adults.
Cannabis use among emerging adults has reached historically high levels, yet there is growing evidence that cannabis use during this developmental period may exacerbate existing psychopathology and increase risk of developing schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. This qualitative study examines perceptions of how cannabis use impacts psychiatric symptoms among twenty emerging adults (ages 18–24) at high risk for psychosis. Participants completed a survey and semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis revealed two overarching themes: relief-oriented cannabis use (e.g., coping with social anxiety, depression) and negative sequelae from cannabis use (e.g., social withdrawal, exacerbating symptoms of psychosis). These findings suggest that using a harm-reduction approach as opposed to cannabis abstinence may be more realistic and attainable for this population. Also, future interventions are needed that address patients’ perceived inadequacy of psychiatric medications, build social and distress tolerance skills that do not involve cannabis use, and provide psychoeducation regarding dose and potency dependent risks.
Relative to men, women tend to escalate more rapidly to problematic cannabis use, experience more severe withdrawal, and report higher levels of internalizing symptoms, which may impede attempts at change. Using two waves of data from a sample of young adult women (Wave 1 N = 653, Wave 2 N = 584), this study tested whether baseline anxiety, depression, and cannabis problems predicted quit/break attempts six months later. Sexual and gender minority status was examined as a moderator. Greater baseline depressive symptoms predicted higher odds of any quit attempt and past attempt, but not current attempt. Greater cannabis problems predicted lower odds of a current attempt. Higher baseline anxiety, depression, and cannabis problems were associated with greater withdrawal, whereas cannabis problems were associated with shorter attempts. Anxiety predicted current quit/break attempts among gender minority participants only. Addressing internalizing symptoms and withdrawal may help sustain cannabis quit/break attempts among women.
