Etiology of Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Hispanic adolescents seem to be at greater risk for alcohol use; a greater understanding of the factors that predict alcohol use among Hispanic youth is needed. Social influences to drink and other problem behaviors often predict adolescent alcohol use. However, most past research has concentrated on samples of predominantly white adolescents residing in suburban areas. Objectives: To determine which demographic factors, social influences, and problem behaviors are associated with alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents and to eludicate the difference in the origins of alcohol use depending on sex.

Social determinants of alcohol and tobacco use among Hispanic adolescents: a scoping review

“…Similar to the general adolescent population in the U.S. ( 24 , 25 ), older age or progression to a more advanced stage of adolescence was consistently reported as a significant risk factor for ATU for Hispanic youth ( 44 , 51 , 52 , 56 , 87 , 94 ). In the Hispanic population, generational status has been a significant predictor for alcohol use as well as tobacco use.…”

“…Substance use among family members—such as fathers, mothers, siblings, or other household members—was also a prominent risk factor ( 29 , 30 , 32 , 35 , 84 ). Gender differences were observed between association of caregiver substance use and alcohol use: sibling substance use was significant only for boys ( 94 ) and maternal substance use only for girls ( 94 ). Interestingly, one study found that a family history of substance use might serve as a protective factor for certain outcomes ( 51 ), possibly due to heightened awareness of the consequences of substance use.…”

“…At the individual level, the influence of the sociocultural indicators of acculturation were somewhat mixed. Whereas some Hispanic cultural values, like simpatía (valuing interpersonal harmony) may have some protective effect for alcohol use, others like familism (valuing family connection), respeto (valuing respect towards authority), and ethnic pride did not have a significant association with alcohol use ( 51 , 94 ). Ethnic identification (identifying with one’s heritage) arose as both risk and protective factors for alcohol use across different studies ( 32 , 70 , 71 ).…”

“…Several studies also identified higher exposure to alcohol advertisements and a greater density of alcohol outlets as significant risk factors for alcohol initiation and current alcohol use among Hispanic adolescents ( 40 , 94 ). Conversely, two studies reported that adolescents in Mexican American communities with greater physical availability of alcohol were less likely to report current alcohol use ( 75 , 80 ).…”

“…At the school level, protective factors included academic achievement and school involvement, while risk factors included absenteeism, suspensions, and exposure to ATU or related advertisements near school environments ( 30 , 33 , 41 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 67 , 69 , 80 ). Community-level influences such as neighborhood violence, substance availability, and immigration-related stress increased risk of ATU, whereas ethnic enclaves, integrated neighborhoods, and physical distance from alcohol outlets offered protective effects ( 37 , 42 , 52 , 54 , 75 , 78 , 80 , 94 ). Finally, at the societal level, ethnic discrimination and negative sociopolitical contexts were associated with higher ATU, often mediated by psychological distress ( 34 , 41 , 44 , 59 , 70 , 75 , 78 , 81 , 86 , 89 ).…”