Hopelessness and Emotional Vulnerability as Drivers of Cannabis Use Disorder among Young Adults in Nigeria

Nigerian youths are facing increasing risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD), driven by psychosocial stressors and underlying psychological vulnerabilities. This study examined hopelessness and emotional vulnerability as predictors of cannabis use disorder among young adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Using an ex-post facto design, data were collected from 210 participants. Standardized instruments (the Beck Hopelessness Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Revised) were administered. Results revealed that males reported significantly higher hopelessness than females (t=2.31, p < .05), while age significantly influenced both hopelessness (F = 3.82, p < .05) and emotional vulnerability (F = 4.10, p < .05). Correlation analysis showed that hopelessness (r = .21, p < .05) and emotional vulnerability (r = .27, p < .05) were positively associated with CUD. Multiple regression confirmed both variables as significant predictors, with emotional vulnerability (β= .42, p<.05) emerging as a stronger factor than hopelessness (β = .34, p < .05), jointly explaining 34% of the variance in cannabis use disorder. These findings underscore the critical role of negative future expectations and emotion dysregulation in shaping cannabisrelated problems among Nigerian youth. The study recommends targeted interventions to reduce hopelessness, enhance emotional regulation, and integrate psychosocial support into prevention programs to curb rising CUD prevalence.