Drug Use among African Americans: Ethnic Identity as a Protective Factor

Abstract

This study examined the multiple components of ethnic identity, the place of this ethnic identity set in the mediational model of the path to drug use predicted by our family interactional framework, and the protective role of each component of ethnic identity. The participants were 259 male and 368 female African Americans in late adolescence. They responded to a structured questionnaire in individual interviews. We found that few of the specific components of ethnic identity were significantly related as main effects to drug use. Most of the effect of ethnic identity was mediated by the family set of variables. Each of the components of ethnic identity offset risks or enhanced protective factors from the ecology, family, personality, and peer domains, thereby lessening drug use. This pattern highlights the importance of incorporating ethnic identity into drug prevention programs which serve African-American youth.

Daily Stress and Alcohol Consumption: Modeling Between-Person and Within-Person Ethnic Variation in Coping Behavior

“…Researchers have suggested that these lower rates of alcohol consumption are largely a function of (a) ethnic minority parents (relative to White parents) exhibiting stricter disapproval of substance use (e.g., Peterson et al, 1994) and (b) an emphasis on abstinence in religious settings (e.g., Wallace et al, 2003). This is consistent with some research that shows that use of religious coping is associated with less alcohol consumption (Brody et al 1996;Brook et al, 1998;Menagi et al, 2008). However, other researchers suggest that the increased intensity (stress) and demands of academic life and new peer relations, coupled with the relative absence of a supportive, familiar environment, can result in increased alcohol and drug use (Hingson et al, 2002), particularly for ethnic minority group members.…”

Substance Use and Experienced Stigmatization Among Ethnic Minority Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

“…What might be some of the factors determining variations in use among different ethnic minority MSM, and how might those differ from those of white MSM? It is important to explore potential protective factors available to ethnic minority MSM (distinct from those of white MSM) based upon ethnic minority identity (Brook, Balka, Brook & Gursen, 1998; Corwin & Benda, 2000; Cuadrado & Lieberman, 1998; Dolezal, Carballo-Diéguez, Nieves-Rosa & Díaz, 2000). Some of these protective factors available to other ethnic minority individuals would seem to be embedded within coethnic social ties (Pearson & Geronimus, 2011), and may therefore not be available to ethnic minority MSM due to homophobia within their communities of origin (Greene, 1994).…”

Personal, interpersonal, and cultural predictors of stages of cigarette smoking among adolescents in Johannesburg, South Africa

“…26 27 As regards protective factors, both a secure sense of identification with one's ethnic group and having cultural norms prohibiting smoking, insulate the adolescent from smoking. 5 28 We also hypothesise that adolescents who report greater cultural taboos against smoking will be less likely to either initiate smoking or progress to regular smoking.…”