Acculturation Profiles and Alcohol Use among Hispanic Americans

Abstract

Hazardous alcohol use among Hispanics makes for a critical public health issue that warrants empirical examination. Whereas research shows positive associations between alcohol-related outcomes and acculturation, it is unclear how enculturation and acculturation x enculturation are linked to alcohol use. Hispanic American undergraduate and graduate students (N = 348, 61.8% women, Mage = 21.82, 83.3% undergraduates) completed questionnaires assessing their levels of acculturation, enculturation, and alcohol use. Enculturation was negatively associated with social drinking-related consequences. Acculturation was positively associated with alcohol consumption, and enculturation buffered this association. Findings highlight the utility of considering acculturation profiles in understanding Hispanic alcohol use.