In the current investigation, we utilize the strategy of Masten and colleagues to evaluate a developmental cascades model of the emergence of cannabis abuse and dependence (CAD) in adolescents who experienced child abuse and neglect earlier in development. Because we are contrasting the development of maltreated and nonmaltreated children, our models differ from those of Masten in that we have a primary exogenous variable of interest, and we seek to determine how child maltreatment influences the development of externalizing and internalizing psychopathology, as well as social competence, from childhood to late adolescence. Moreover, because we are interested in the development of CAD, our model includes this emergent adolescent outcome only during adolescence, given the virtually nonexistent use of marijuana during childhood (cf. Masten, Desjardins, McCormick, Kuo, & Long, 2010).
