Assessing Aerobic Fitness Level in Relation to Affective and Behavioral Functioning in Emerging Adult Cannabis Users

Cannabis use is common among emerging adults and increasingly linked to negative mood and neurocognitive performance. Aerobic fitness, however, may be positively linked. Therefore, we assess the potential moderating influence of aerobic fitness on affective and behavioral functioning associated with cannabis. After 3 weeks of abstinence, 83 16–26 year olds (38 cannabis, 45 controls) completed self-report inventories (BDI-II, STAI-state, FrSBe, BIS/BAS), an objective emotion functioning measure (PennCNP), and VO 2 max testing. Multiple regressions assessed symptoms from past-year cannabis use, VO 2 max, and cannabis*VO 2 , controlling for alcohol, cotinine, gender, and BMI. Past-year cannabis use was associated with increased depressive symptoms ( p = .04), BIS/BAS component ( p = .002), and emotion recognition ( p = .045). Results suggest a robust association between past-year cannabis use and depressive symptoms and behavioral and affective functioning. Aerobic fitness, however, did not moderate these relationships. Efforts should be made to inform the public of concerns regarding the potential negative impact of cannabis on mood.