Individual Latent Growth Curves in the Development of Marijuana Use from Childhood to Young Adulthood

The present study was designed to examine the relationship between unconventionality and marijuana use over time. The sample for this paper consisted of 532 male and female participants interviewed during early adolescence, late adolescence, their early twenties, and their late twenties. Latent growth modeling was used. The findings indicated that (1) the influence of initial unconventionality (T2) on initial marijuana use (72) was stronger for males, (2) unconventionality at T2 was not significantly related to overall rate of growth in marijuana use, and (3) change in unconventionality was related to overall growth rate of marijuana use. The implications of the findings for prevention and treatment are discussed.