Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Date Created

5-5-2023

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences among groups of individuals who regularly use cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), or who are non-users with respect to mental health, sleep, and anaerobic power measures. A total of 24 participants (21 males and 3 females) were recruited and placed into groups based on their regular cannabis/CBD or non-cannabis/CBD use. The cannabis user group was using cannabis at least three times per week for the past 8 weeks (CA; n=8), the CBD user group was using CBD at least three times per week for the past 8 weeks (CB; n=8), and the control group was not using any cannabis or CBD product within the past 8 weeks (CO; n=8). Participants completed 2 total visits. During these visits, they completed a body composition evaluation using air displacement plethysmography with a BODPOD (COSMED USA Inc., Concord, CA), a physical activity assessment using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), mental health evaluation using the Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWB), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), and Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QOL) surveys, a subjective sleep quality survey using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ), and an anaerobic fitness assessment using the Wingate anaerobic power test on a cycle ergometer (Monark Ergomedic 894E, Monark, Varberg, Sweden). Additionally, the participants in the CA group completed a Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory (DFAQ-CU) to measure cannabis use. Mean PWB scores of CB and CO were significantly higher in the Autonomy (p<0.001; p=0.003), Personal Growth (p<0.001; p<0.001), Positive Relations with Others (p=0.001; p=0.002), Purpose in Life (p=0.003; p=0.003), and Self-Acceptance (p=0.001; p=0.02) subscales, respectively, when compared to CA. There were no significant differences in mean PWB scores between CB and CO in all PWB subscales (p>0.05). Mean QOL score of CB was significantly higher than the mean score of CA (p=0.004), but no significant differences were found between CA and CO (p=0.11) or CB and CO (p=0.48). Mean GAD-7 (p=0.40) and PFS (p=0.25) scores were not significant between groups. Mean LSEQ (p=0.42), GTS (p=0.44), QOS (p=0.29), AFS (p=0.14), and BFW (p=0.14) scores were not significant between groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of average peak power (p=0.77), relative peak power (p=0.15), mean power (p=0.97), relative mean power (p=0.30), and anaerobic fatigue (p=0.82) during the Wingate assessment. The present study demonstrated no significant differences between CA, CB, and CO with respect to measures of anxiety, subjective fatigue, perceived sleep quality, and anaerobic power, but revealed significant differences between CA and both CB and CO in measures of psychological wellbeing and quality of life. These results suggest that regular cannabis users may have a lower psychological state and a lower perceived quality of life when compared to CBD users or cannabis and CBD non-users. Findings from this study provide a novel insight into the mental health, subjective sleep, and anaerobic power measures of regular cannabis users, regular CBD users, and a group of non-users.

Keywords

Cannabis; Cannabidiol; CBD; THC; Mental Health; Sleep; Anaerobic Power

Share

COinS