The Role of Impulsivity in the Association Between Rumination and Cannabis-related Problems Among Trauma-exposed Cannabis Users

Objectives: The Emotional Cascade Model posits that rumination is associated with impulsivity and risky behaviours such as substance use. Although trauma-exposed individuals often engage in rumination and problematic cannabis use, this model has not been tested on trauma-exposed cannabis users. Therefore, our study examines the direct and indirect effects between rumination and its subtypes with problematic cannabis use among trauma-exposed cannabis users. We also examine how these associations occur through impulsivity.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 56 trauma-exposed young adult cannabis users (M = 21 years, 59% female, 73% white) self-reported rumination, impulsivity, and cannabis-related problems. All participants provided written informed consent, and procedures were approved by the university's Institutional Review Board and pre-registered.

Results: Regression analyses indicated total and brooding rumination were related to greater cannabis-related problems, after covarying for number of traumas and cannabis use frequency. Rumination, specifically brooding, was incrementally associated with greater cannabis-related problems and had an indirect effect on cannabis-related problems through impulsivity. Consistent with hypothesis, rumination and impulsivity were incrementally associated with greater problematic cannabis use among trauma-exposed cannabis users.

Conclusion: The current study expands work on the Emotional Cascade Model by supporting the indirect effect of impulsivity in the association between rumination and problematic cannabis use.