Gender Differences in the Association between Synthetic Cannabinoid Use and Teen Dating Violence Victimization

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoid use and teen dating violence (TDV) are major public health concerns in the United States. Synthetic cannabinoid use has been associated with increased risk of TDV victimization; however, gender differences are unknown. This study aims to examine gender differences in the association between synthetic cannabinoid use and TDV victimization among U.S. high school students. Data on 10,162 students in grades 9 through 12 who dated during the preceding 12 months were obtained from the 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The association between lifetime synthetic cannabinoid use (yes or no) and TDV victimization (four-level TDV measure and a two-level TDV measure) was examined using logistic regression analyses and stratified by gender. In women, lifetime use of synthetic cannabinoid was associated with greater odds of physical TDV only, both physical and sexual TDV, and any TDV victimization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.74, confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.02-2.97; aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.01-2.91; and aOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.01-2.05, respectively). In men, lifetime synthetic cannabinoid use was associated with greater odds of both physical and sexual TDV victimization only (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.12-3.89). Gender differences exist in the association between synthetic cannabinoid use and TDV victimization among high school students, with women having increased odds of victimization over a wider range of TDV victimization subtypes. Public health practitioners, school administrators, and counselors should be aware of these gender differences, and TDV prevention programs should incorporate education of high school students about the dangers of synthetic cannabinoid use.