Exploring the Relationship between Moderate to Severe Depression and Marijuana Use Among Black Male College Students: Insights from the Healthy Minds Network

Background and Purpose

Depression is a prevalent mental health issue in the United States, with potentially severe consequences, including self-harm and suicide. While numerous studies have explored the causes of depression and identified various risk factors, recent attention has turned to the role of marijuana use in depression. Existing findings in the literature regarding the relationship between marijuana use and depression are inconsistent. With the ongoing legalization of marijuana across the United States, there is growing awareness of the need to investigate marijuana consumption, including among college students.

Previous studies investigating links between depression and marijuana use have predominantly consisted of white samples. Considering the underrepresentation of Black males in higher education and reports indicating high rates of marijuana usage among this demographic, there is a critical need to explore the relationship between depression and marijuana use, specifically among Black male collegians. This study aims to address this gap by examining the association between depression and marijuana usage among Black male collegians.

Methods

This cross-sectional study draws upon a subsample of Black males (n=2,014) within the 2022-23 Healthy Minds Network dataset. Recent marijuana use (e.g., last 30 days) (n=522) was the independent variable, and moderate to severe depression (scores ≥10 on the PHQ-9 assessment in the last two weeks) was the dependent variable. Controls included individual (e.g., age and sexual orientation), educational (e.g., undergraduate, or grad/professional student), socioeconomic (e.g., parents’ educational attainment), substance use (e.g., frequency of use and alcohol use), and psychosocial (e.g., financial stress and discrimination on campus) factors. Data were modeled using a series of logistic regressions.

Results

Findings indicated a significant association between marijuana use and depression among the sample X²(1, N=2014)=5.32, p<.05. Regression analysis revealed Black males who reported marijuana use experienced higher odds of depression (OR= 1.32, 95%CI[1.04, 167], p<.05).

Upon controlling for individual, educational, socioeconomic, substance use, and psychosocial factors, higher odds of depression were noted among Black male collegians who are aged 18-23 (OR=2.82, 95% CI[1.44, 5.53], p< .05), frequently stressed (OR= 3.36, 95%CI [2.11, 5.36], p<.001), and experienced racial discrimination on campus (OR= 1.83, 95%CI [1.27, 2.63], p <.05). While marijuana use was no longer associated with depression in the final model, it’s important to note that reporting marijuana use was associated with higher odds of depression when controlling for individual (OR= 1.28, 95%CI [1.00, 1.62], p <.05), educational (OR= 1/28, 95 %CI [1.01, 1.63], p<.05), socioeconomic (OR= 1.33, 95%CI [1.04, 1.70], p <.05), and psychosocial factors (OR= 1.83, 95%CI [1.32, 2.54], p<.001).

Conclusion and Implications

Our results find that there is a significant association between marijuana use and depression in the sample of Black male collegians. Empirical knowledge regarding the impact of marijuana use on the mental health and educational outcomes of Black male collegians is of importance to practitioners, policymakers, and scholars. With the ongoing legalization of marijuana across the U.S., there is a growing awareness of the need to investigate marijuana consumption among Black college students and its association with mental health and educational outcomes.