Factors Contributing to Differences in Substance Use Among Black and White Adolescents

Abstract

Research reveals that Black youth are less likely to use alcohol than White youth. It has been argued that Blacks are more likely to abstain because they have less disposable income, are more religious, and have more family support and/or control than White youth. It has also been suggested that not only are these compositional characteristics different and likely to suppress use rates but also that the effects of these factors vary as well. However, there are no comprehensive empirical investigations of these explanations. This study uses the Add Health Survey to examine alcohol and drug use by race and/or ethnicity and to explore how differences in composition and process might produce differences in use. Results suggest that the socioeconomic contexts of Black and White youth differ considerably. However, differences in alcohol use are almost entirely explained by differences in process, in particular, the influence of peers and the family.

Moderating Effects of Positive Parenting on the Perceived Peer Alcohol Use and Adolescent Alcohol Use Relationship: Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Differences

“…Our findings suggest that positive parenting factors that are protective for White boys and girls do not necessarily protect boys and girls from other racial and ethnic groups against alcohol use in the same way. Although there are many common risk and protective factors for adolescent alcohol use across racial, ethnic, and gender subgroups, risk and protective factors unique to each subgroup exist and should be addressed in prevention programs (Terling Watt & McCoy Rogers, 2007;Thai et al, 2010). Parent-based alcohol use prevention programs need to be culturally sensitive and account for gender differences.…”

Trajectories of Adolescent Alcohol Use by Gender and Early Initiation Status

“…Few studies have examined the correlates of drinking behaviors in African American adolescents, however, and results are inconclusive (Vidourek & King, 2010). Differences in alcohol use patterns for youth of different ethnicities may be associated with differences in child conduct problems (Chartier, Hesselbrock, & Hesselbrock, 2009), depressive symptoms (Lombe,Yu, Nebbitt, & Earl, 2011; Maag & Irvin, 2005) and the effects of peer influence (Bossarte & Swahn, 2008; Watt & Rogers, 2007).…”

Informal mentoring support as a potential moderator of the relation between adolescent dating violence victimization and substance use

“…These unexpected findings stand in contrast to previous research (Hurd et al, 2014; Mauer et al, 2021; Zimmerman et al, 2002) that found positive outcomes among youth who had an informal mentor in their life. Although it is possible that support from informal mentors is simply unrelated to ADV victimization or substance use involvement, we suspect it is more likely that ADV victimization and substance use involvement are determined by a confluence of factors that supersede the role of youths’ relationship with a mentor (Taquette & Monteiro, 2019; Watt & Rogers, 2007; Whitesell et al, 2013).…”