Association Between Cannabis Smoking and Academic Achievement in Colombian High-School Students

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackgroundCannabis smoking can affect academic achievement, and depressive symptoms and family dysfunction are also associated it. The study’s objective was to establish the relationship between cannabis smoking and academic achievement, controlling clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction.MethodsA cross-sectional study was designed. The authors quantified lifetime cannabis smoking, perception of academic achievement, clinically important depressive symptoms, and family dysfunction. The crude association between cannabis smoking and academic achievement was computed; after it was adjusted by clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction.Results1,462 students between 13 and 17 participated in the research; 11.6% reported lifetime cannabis smoking, 30.8% poor-fair academic achievement; 7.1% clinically important depressive symptoms; and 76.1% family dysfunction. Lifetime cannabis smoking was significantly associated with poor-fair academic achievement after adjusting for clinically important depressive symptoms and family dysfunction (OR = 1.61, 95%CI 1.16 - 2.24).ConclusionsLifetime cannabis smoking is related to poor-fair academic achievement among high-school students in Santa Marta, Colombia.Data availability statementThe data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Authors biographyYegson Pérez-MartínezHe is a young psychologist interested in researching school psychology, academic achievement, and health-compromising behaviours.Guillermo Augusto Ceballos-Ospino, psychologist He is a psychologist and occasional professor at the Program of Psychology, University of Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia. His action areas are mental health, especially suicide prevention, and psychometrics. He is interested in studies with populations of university students.Adalberto Campo-Arias, MD, MSc He is a psychiatrist, magister in sexual and reproductive health and professor at the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia. His research interests include sexual and reproductive health, human rights, prejudice and discrimination, and health-compromising behaviours.