Preventing Substance Use Among Hispanic Urban Youth: Valuing the Role of Family,Social Support Networks,School Importance,and Community Engagement

Abstract

Hispanic urban youth experience high levels of violence, access to drugs and alcohol, and limited access to quality educational institutions, as well as a disproportionate use of substances. However, youth exposed to multiple sources of support, such as values related to family centrality (e.g., family cohesion or familismo) and positive social networks, are less likely to use substances, and more likely to value school and participate in community activities. The present study examines substance use and empowering-protective resources among a cohort of Hispanic students (N = 538) from a northeastern United States urban community. We also assessed the moderating influence of gender using structural equation modeling (SEM) multigroup path analysis techniques. Results indicate that access to more sociocultural resources, such as cohesive families (familismo) and social supports, increases Hispanic adolescents’ community participation and school importance. Outcomes also demonstrate the positive, yet diverging, effects of gender. Implications for community prevention and policy are discussed.     

Alcohol Use Severity Among Hispanic Emerging Adults in Higher Education: Understanding the Effect of Cultural Congruity

Background: Identifying and understanding determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students is an increasingly important public health issue, particularly during emerging adulthood. Studies examining ethnocultural determinants of alcohol use behavior among Hispanic college students have focused on direct associations with cultural orientation (e.g., acculturation and enculturation); yet there is a need for research that accounts for the complex interplay of other culturally relevant sociocultural factors. Objectives: This study examined associations of behavioral acculturation, behavioral enculturation, and cultural congruity (perception of cultural fit between the values of the academic environment and the student's personal values) with alcohol use severity (AUS); and tested if gender moderated those associations. Methods: A hierarchical linear regression and moderation analysis were conducted on a sample of 167 Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18–25) enrolled in college. Results: All predictor variables entered in the regression model accounted for 20.9% of the variance in AUS. After controlling for demographic variables and depressive symptoms, behavioral acculturation and enculturation did not have a statistically significant association with AUS. Further, gender did not moderate either of these associations. Conversely, greater cultural congruity was associated with lower reports of AUS. A moderation analysis suggested that cultural congruity predicted lower reports of AUS among men, but not among women. Conclusions: This was the first known study to examine the association of cultural congruity with alcohol use. Findings highlight the value of examining contextual factors of culture and moving beyond reductive measures of cultural orientation.     

Latino Immigrants’ Biological Parents’ Histories of Substance Use Problems in Their Country of Origin Predict Their Pre- and Post-Immigration Alcohol Use Problems

Background: No studies to date have assessed whether recent young adult (aged 18–34) Latino immigrants’ biological parents’ histories of substance use problems (BPHSUP) in their country of origin predict their alcohol use problems at pre- and post-immigration to the United States (US). Methods: BPHSUP in their country of origin were assessed via interviews conducted by bilingual Latino researchers with recent Latino immigrants primarily from Cuba and Central and South America recruited through respondent-driven sampling at the time of their immigration to southeastern US. Three waves of data were collected to document Latino immigrants’ severity of alcohol use problems at pre-immigration and 2 annual post-immigration follow-up assessments. BPHSUP+/? status was used as a predictor of Latinos’ (N = 452; 45.8% female, 54.2% male) Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores at pre- and post-immigration with age, education, and income as covariates as wells as odds ratios for AUDIT classifications of hazardous use, harmful use, and dependence. Results: BPHSUP+ status predicted Latino immigrants’ higher AUDIT scores pre- and post-immigration by gender (P < .01) compared with Latino immigrants of BPHSUP? status, controlling for age, education, and income. BPHSUP+ status predicted odds ratios of 3.45 and 2.91 for AUDIT alcohol dependence classification for men and women, respectively. Conclusions: This study documents that BPHSUP+/? status in their country of origin predict their young adult Latino offspring's severity of alcohol use problems pre- and post-immigration. These results may inform (1) community-based health care providers to screen recent young adult Latino immigrants for their BPHSUP+/? status and severity of alcohol use problems to redirect trajectories away from alcohol use disorders toward more normative post-immigration outcomes through culturally relevant prevention services and (2) future research advantages of differential susceptibility theory. Implications for future research and the need for replication studies in other geographic regions of the US are discussed.     

Psychiatric Symptoms,Parental Attachment,and Reasons for Use as Correlates of Heavy Substance Use Among Treatment-Seeking Hispanic Adolescents

In early adolescence, Hispanics self-report higher drug use rates compared to White and African American peers. Among adolescent users, heavy users have more negative behavioral and health consequences. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to examine whether psychiatric symptoms, parental attachment, and reasons for use predict heavy alcohol and illicit drug use (more than 10 times in the past three months) among Hispanic adolescents. Methods: This study examines baseline data from a study evaluating a family based substance abuse treatment program for Hispanic adolescents. Participants were 14–17 years old (N = 156, 44% female). Adolescent reports on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Predictive Scales measured psychiatric symptoms of major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and anxiety. The Personal Experiences Inventory measured type and amount of drug use, as well as perceived social and psychological benefits of drug use. The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment measured trust, communication, and alienation between adolescents and their mothers. Logistic regression identified correlates of heavy alcohol use and heavy illicit drug use among Hispanic adolescents. Results: Higher social benefits were associated with increased likelihood of heavy alcohol use. Conduct disorder, higher levels of maternal attachment, lower levels of acculturation, and higher levels of psychological benefits of use were associated with an increased likelihood of heavy illicit drug use. Conclusion: These findings support the assumption that substance use treatment among Hispanic adolescents must be capable of addressing co-occurring psychiatric disorders, familial relationships, and the individual reasons/motivators to use.     

Structural Models of Gender,Alcohol Consumption,and Health

Background.?Gender differences exist in patterns of alcohol consumption and in the health and social effects of alcohol use, but little is known about gender differences in how alcohol use is affected by mental and physical health conditions. Methods.?We used structural equation modeling techniques to examine gender differences in the relationships among alcohol consumption, physical and mental health, functional status, and social and demographic characteristics. Data were obtained from a random sample of the adult membership of a health maintenance organization in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Simultaneous models evaluated gender differences in predictors of drinking vs. nondrinking status and, among drinkers, amount of alcohol consumed. Results.?Physical health was twice as strong a predictor of drinker/nondrinker status among women compared with men, but among drinkers, there were no gender differences in predictors of amount of alcohol consumed. Mental health predicted drinking status and alcohol consumption among drinkers, but these relationships did not differ by gender. Overall, sociodemographic characteristics and physical health were stronger predictors of alcohol use among women than among men. Conclusions.?Women may be more amenable than men to alcohol-related preventive messages that target physical health concerns. Treating mental health conditions may be an important method for reducing alcohol consumption.     

Gender Differences in Stressful Life Events,Social Support,Perceived Stress,and Alcohol Use Among Older Adults: Results From a National Survey

Stressful life events, perceived stress, and social support relationships with consumption, at-risk drinking, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) were studied in a population-based sample of current drinkers age 60+ in the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (Wave 2; 2004–2005; n = 4,360). Stressful life events were associated with AUD among men and women, and crime victimization among men only. However, greater perceived stress was associated with lower consumption among women and greater odds of AUD in men, highlighting differences in the relationship between stress and alcohol use by gender that may be the result of the stress alcohol link.     

Three Types of Adverse Childhood Experiences,and Alcohol and Drug Dependence Among Adults: An Investigation Using Population-Based Data

Background: There are several gaps in the literature on the link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and substance use, including the impact of less direct forms of abuse, such as witnessing domestic violence, and the role of gender as a moderator of the relationship. Objectives: To estimate associations between three types of ACEs (sexual abuse, physical abuse, and exposure to parental domestic violence), when mutually adjusted, and two substance dependence outcomes (alcohol and drug dependence), while considering the potential moderating role of gender and the effects of a range of potential explanatory factors. Methods: Secondary analysis of the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health (2012) using logistic regression (n = 21,554). A series of models were tested separately for each outcome, including ACEs, gender, race, and age. First, gender interactions were tested. Next, potential explanatory factors were entered into the models and the extent of attenuation was noted. These factors included: depression, anxiety, smoking, pain, insomnia, social support, and socioeconomic status Results: All three ACEs are associated with significantly higher odds of alcohol and drug dependence, even when controlling for all factors simultaneously; however, no strong evidence for gender interactions was found. In the fully adjusted model, odds ratios for drug dependence vary from 2.52 (sexual abuse) to 1.34 (exposure to domestic violence). The comparable range for alcohol dependence is 2.13 (physical abuse) to 1.49 (exposure to domestic violence). Conclusions/Importance: Three types of ACEs, including direct and indirect forms of violence, are independently related to lifetime drug and alcohol dependence among adult Canadians.     

Correlates of Blunt Smoking Among African American,Hispanic/Latino,and White Adults: Results From the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Background: Blunt use is highly prevalent in the United States and has been associated with several negative health consequences, such as an increased risk for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Although recent studies have identified characteristics (e.g., gender) that are associated with blunt use, it is unclear if these factors correlate with blunt use equally across racial/ethnic groups. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this study aimed to determine if demographic, health and substance use correlates of current (i.e., past 30-day) and lifetime blunt use were similar across 37,628 non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White adults. Results: Findings revealed 8.3% of African American, 3.3% of Hispanic/Latino and 2.5% of White adults reported current blunt smoking. Across all racial/ethnic groups, age and current and lifetime cigarette and illicit drug use were associated with current and lifetime blunt use. However, gender, educational level, income, current alcohol use and self-reported health status were differentially associated with current and lifetime blunt use across racial/ethnic groups. Employment status and lifetime depression were not associated with blunt use behaviors among any of the racial/ethnic groups. Conclusions: The relationship between gender, socioeconomic status, alcohol use and self-reported health status and blunt use differs among African American, Hispanic/Latino and White adults. Researchers and providers should consider the heterogeneity in factors that are associated with blunt use when designing prevention and treatment interventions for African American, Hispanic/Latino and White adult blunt smokers.     

Substance Misuse and Behavioral Adjustment Problems in Irish Adolescents: Examining Contextual Risk and Social Proximal Factors

Background: Using an ecological perspective to examine the roles of contextual factors and proximal social processes, the current study examined problem behavior among adolescents. Objective: The study examined how family, peer, and school processes mediate the relationship between cumulative contextual risk and problem behavior, and whether these mediating relationships are moderated by gender. Method: Data were obtained from the My World Survey Second Level, a cross-sectional national survey assessing risk and protective factors of mental health among 6062 adolescents aged 12–19 years (M = 14.93, SD = 1.62). Using risk factors from socioeconomic, community, and family levels, a cumulative contextual risk index (CCRI) was created to identify adolescents at increased risk of problem behavior in Ireland. Conditional process analysis examined whether gender moderated the relationship between the CCRI and problem behaviors (alcohol behavior, poorer behavioral adjustment, and problematic substance use) as mediated by five proximal social variables, family cohesion, mother criticism, father criticism, peer connectedness, and school connectedness. Results: Using Hayes’ (2013) SPSS macro for conditional process analyses, with age as a covariate, gender was shown to moderate the mediated relationships between CCRI and problem behaviors, via mother criticism and peer connectedness. Of note, a positive association was observed between high peer connectedness and alcohol risk behavior, highlighting the need to examine additional aspects of peer context including group norms and peer pressure. Conclusion: The study provides valuable and practical implications for informing research, interventions, and social policy at family, peer, and school levels.     

PTSD Symptomology and Motivated Alcohol Use Among Military Service Members: Testing a Conditional Indirect Effect Model of Social Support

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and problematic alcohol use commonly co-occur among military service members. It remains critical to understand why these patterns emerge, and under what conditions. Objectives: This study examined whether PTSD symptoms (PTSS) and alcohol involvement (quantity and frequency of use, heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol problems) are indirectly related through four distinct drinking motivations. A secondary aim was to identify factors, specifically forms of social support, which buffer these associations. Methods: Using baseline data from a randomized-controlled trial of health and well-being among civilian-employed separated service members and reservists, the present study examined these issues using a subsample of 398 current drinkers. Results: Parallel mediation models revealed PTSS–alcohol consumption associations were indirect through coping and enhancement motivations. PTSS was only related to alcohol problems through coping motivations. In addition, the indirect effect of PTSS on average level of consumption via coping motives was conditional on perceived support from friends and family, whereas the indirect effect for alcohol problems was conditional only on friend support. In contrast, the indirect effects of PTSS on alcohol consumption variables (but not problems) via enhancement motives were conditional on perceived support from friends and family. Conclusions/Importance: Future research and screening efforts should attend to individual motivations for drinking as important factors related to alcohol use and problems among service members experiencing PTSS, and emphasize the importance of communication, trust, and effective supports among military and nonmilitary friends and family.     

The associations between deployment experiences,PTSD, and alcohol use among male and female veterans

OverviewAlcohol use is common following traumatic military deployment experiences. What is less clear is why, and for whom, particular deployment experiences lead to alcohol use.MethodThe current study explored associations between deployment stressors (Warfare, Military Sexual Trauma, and Concerns about Life and Family Disruptions—“Life Disruptions”), PTSD (PCL-5), and alcohol use (CAGE) post-deployment, stratified by gender among 2344 male and female veterans (1137 men; Mage = 35). Conditional process analyses examined the indirect effect of traumatic deployment experiences on alcohol use, via PTSD symptom severity, with Life Disruptions as a moderator.ResultsMore severe Warfare and military sexual trauma (MST) were associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, which was associated with higher problematic alcohol use. PTSD symptom severity accounted for the associations between trauma type (i.e., MST or Warfare) and alcohol use. Among women, but not men, Life Disruptions moderated the associations between trauma type (i.e., MST, Warfare) and PTSD symptom severity, such that elevated Life Disruptions amplified the associations between trauma type and PTSD symptom severity. Moderated mediation was significant for MST among women, indicating that the strength of the indirect effect (MST ➔ PTSD ➔ problematic alcohol use) was moderated by Life Disruptions; problematic alcohol use was highest for women with greater PTSD symptom severity following exposure to more severe Life Disruptions and MST (Est. = 0.0007, SE = 0.0001, CI = 0.0002 to 0.0013).ConclusionsTaken together, alcohol use following potentially traumatic deployment experiences can be understood by considering PTSD symptom severity, gender, and Life Disruptions.     

Physical Pain and History of Suicidal Behaviors in Alcohol-Dependent Patients Entering Treatment in Poland

Background: Individuals with alcohol use disorders have been shown to be at increased risk for suicidal behaviors and chronic pain. Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct initial analyses of the association between current physical pain and the likelihood of suicidal behavior history in alcohol-dependent patients entering treatment in Poland. Methods: A sample of 366 (73.5% men and 26.5% women) participants were recruited from alcohol treatment centers in Warsaw, Poland. Information was obtained about a history of lifetime suicidal behavior, past 4-week pain level, demographics, social functioning, childhood abuse, depressive symptoms, severity of alcohol and sleep problems. Results: A total of 118 individuals (32.2%) reported at least one suicidal behavior during their lifetime. In unadjusted analyses, there was a significant association between a history of lifetime suicidal behavior and a moderate or greater experience of physical pain during the last four weeks. Other variables that were significantly associated with suicidal behaviors were: younger age, history of childhood abuse, depressive symptoms, sleep problems, consequences of drinking, and lower social support. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, only experience of moderate or greater pain, age, and depressive symptoms remained significantly associated with a history of suicidal behavior. Conclusions: The experience of physical pain is significantly associated with a lifetime history of suicidal behavior in alcohol-dependent patients. Clinicians should be aware of these associations when conducting assessments and treating alcohol use disorders.     

Social Support,Family Empowerment,Substance Use,and Perceived Parenting Competency during Pregnancy for Women with Substance Use Disorders

Background: Parenting self-efficacy has been linked to positive parent and child outcomes however, little research exists on factors that influence parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women with substance use disorders. Objectives: This study explored substance use severity, social support, and family empowerment as predictors of parenting self-efficacy among pregnant women (N = 71) entering SUD treatment. Methods: The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design. Results: Statistically significant positive correlations emerged between social support and parenting self-efficacy as well as family empowerment and parenting self-efficacy. Family empowerment and social support were also correlated. A backward elimination regression analysis revealed family empowerment to be the strongest predictor of parenting self-efficacy. No relationships were found among substance use severity and the study variables. Conclusions: When promoting parenting self-efficacy, both social support and family empowerment are important domains to consider for treatment planning and resource development among pregnant women with substance use disorders.     

Gender and Alcohol Use Disorders Diagnostic Criteria in Emergency Department Patients of Argentina

Background: Alcohol consumption and its related consequences are not equal for women and men, although related studies do not frequently include gender analysis. Objective: Our aim was to characterize differences in endorsement of ICD-10 and DSM 5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria by gender in an Argentinean emergency department population. Methods: A probability sample of patients (N = 923) from the largest emergency department in the city of Mar del Plata, Argentina (44% were females, aged 16 to 86, M (SD) = 37.31(15.20) was collected. Using a structured questionnaire, diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders, alcohol consumption, and socio-demographic variables were obtained. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess differences in the endorsement of each diagnostic criterion by gender. Results: Women were less likely to endorse each of the criteria for each of the diagnostic schemes. Even after controlling alcohol consumption, socio-demographic variables, severity of alcohol use disorders and adjusting for multiple comparisons females had a lower probability than males of endorsing withdrawal and impaired control. Conclusions: gender differences in the endorsement of diagnostic criteria for both the DSM 5 and ICD-10 were found. Some differences in endorsement but not all, might be partially explained by alcohol consumption patterns and socio-demographic factors, and same remained after controlling severity of the AUD. Results also suggest a differential functioning of DSM 5 and ICD-10 AUD criteria for women and men.     

Contextual Factors Related to Alcohol Abuse Among Intimate Partner Violence Offenders

Background: The association between alcohol consumption and intimate partner violence (IPV) has been reiterated in numerous studies. Some authors have found higher levels of risk factors in intimate partner violence offenders (IPVOs) with alcohol problems than in IPVOs without such problems. Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship of contextual variables with harmful alcohol use in a sample of IPVOs. Method: This cross-sectional research analyzes data from 231 IPVOs. In addition to demographic data, information was collected on alcohol use, ethnicity, accumulation of stressful life events and perceived social support and rejection. The sample was divided into hazardous and nonhazardous alcohol users, according to the AUDIT test scale. Results: No differences were found between groups on demographic variables. The results of a hierarchical logistic regression analysis supplemented with ROC curves revealed that Latin American immigrants as opposed to Spanish nationality, accumulating stressful life events, and perceiving low social support significantly increased the likelihood of alcohol abuse, with adequate predictive power. Conclusion: Contextual variables such as ethnicity, accumulation of stressful life events, and lack of social support may explain harmful alcohol consumption. These variables should be taken into account in batterer intervention programs in order to reduce one of the most relevant risk factors of IPV: alcohol abuse.     

Substance use,gender, and generation status among Asian Indians in the United States

This study examined substance use (cigarette, alcohol, and illicit drug) among first- and second-generation Asian Indian women and men (n = 1,209; ages 18–34) living in the United States. Participants reported low rates of substance use compared to national averages. First-generation participants reported lower rates of substance use. Men were more likely to have used alcohol and tried cigarettes. Within the first generation, gender differences were only significant for alcohol, but within the second generation, gender differences were significant for all three substances. The findings support the resiliency of immigrants and highlight gender differences that occur among second-generation participants.     

Impact of social influences and problem behavior on alcohol use among inner-city Hispanic and black adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: Inner-city black and Hispanic adolescents might be at great risk for alcohol use. Yet the etiology of drinking among these adolescents receives little attention. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of social influences and problem behavior on alcohol use among Hispanic and black adolescents. The impact of these factors was also tested separately for girls and boys to determine the differences in etiology of alcohol use depending on gender. METHOD: A large sample of black and Hispanic seventh-grade students (N = 4,847, 52% female) self-reported alcohol use, demographic characteristics (gender, family structure, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status), social influences to drink (peer norms, adult norms, their friends' use, their mother's use, their father's use, their siblings' use, and perceived availability of alcohol), and problem behaviors (cigarette smoking, marijuana use, getting into trouble). Teams of three to five data collectors administered the questionnaire following standardized protocol. These data were collected in class during a regular 40-minute period. RESULTS: Logistic regressions indicated that social influences to drink from friends, peers, and family and problem behaviors including cigarette smoking and marijuana use were related to alcohol use across and within gender. Getting into trouble predicted drinking for boys but not girls. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these findings, adolescent alcohol prevention programs need to include an awareness of the many social influences to drink, modify incorrectly perceived peer norms for drinking, involve family members in the prevention program and address an array of problem behaviors within one prevention intervention.     

Neighbourhood matters: perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness and associations with alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use

Introduction and Aims. To examine relationships between perceived neighbourhood cohesion and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption in New Zealand. Design and Methods. A two‐level random intercept regression model was used to examine the extent to which perception of neighbourhood cohesion (at the individual and area level) was associated with the frequency of substance (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) consumption, after controlling for demographics and deprivation. This study is based on data from two national Health Behaviours Surveys (Drugs and Alcohol) conducted in 2003 and 2004 in New Zealand. Data were collected by computer‐assisted telephone interviewing with two complementary computer‐assisted cellphone interviewing samples. The combined sample consists of 6346 men and 8411 women (n = 14 757) distributed across 1572 census area units. Results. Perception of neighbourhood cohesion was significantly associated with the level of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis consumption. Individuals who perceived their neighbourhood as more cohesive had higher annual frequency of alcohol consumption but lower consumption on a typical drinking occasion. Higher perceived neighbourhood cohesion was also associated with a decrease in the probability of tobacco and cannabis use and of the amounts consumed. Area‐level analysis suggested that aggregate census area unit‐level neighbourhood cohesion exerted a significant additional contextual effect on the frequency of tobacco and cannabis consumption over and above individual perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness. Discussion and Conclusions. This study provides empirical evidence that perceptions of the neighbourhood social environment are associated with people's substance consumption patterns. Increasing residents' sense of neighbourhood cohesion might prove a promising way to decrease health‐damaging consumption behaviours. [Lin E‐Y, Witten K, Casswell S, You RQ. Neighbourhood matters: Perceptions of neighbourhood cohesiveness and associations with alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:402–412]     

Tobacco,Alcohol, and Drug Use of People With Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Differential Impact of Family and Friends

Objective: Substance use among people with mood and anxiety disorders is highly prevalent. The literature suggests that substance use among people with mood and anxiety disorders is linked to social relational factors, yet it has rarely been the case that studies explicitly examine the differential impact of family and friends. This study investigated the association among family relationships, friendships, and substance use among people with mood and anxiety disorders. Methods: Using the National Survey of American Life, structural equation modeling tested the unique effects of family relationships and friendships on tobacco, alcohol, and drug use (n = 1,076). The quality of family relationships was assessed using 12 items on the frequency of contact with family, received help from family, closeness in feeling toward family, and emotional support from family. The quality of friendships was assessed using four items on the frequency of contact with friends, received and given help, and closeness in feeling toward friends. Substance use was measured using self-reported use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Results: Findings indicated that family relationships (β = –.101, p = .031) and friendships (β = .142, p = .004) were associated with drug use among people with mood and anxiety disorders, controlling for gender, age, race, education level, employment status, income, and family substance use history. Yet, family relationships and friendships were not significantly associated with tobacco and alcohol use. Conclusions: People with mood and anxiety disorders who had better family relationships were less likely to use drugs, while those who had better friendships were more likely to use drugs. Practitioners should be attentive to the differential impact of family and friends when working with people with mood and anxiety disorders to reduce the risk of drug use. Family interventions promoting and maintaining quality relationships with family will be helpful. However, friendships may facilitate drug use of people with mood and anxiety disorders. Practitioners should be cognizant of the potential risks of friendship networks for people with mood and anxiety disorders.     

Acculturation, gender, and alcohol use among Mexican American college students

Prior research with non-college samples of Mexican Americans has demonstrated that gender moderates the association between acculturation and alcohol use. We replicated this finding in a college student sample and attempted to account for the differential impact of acculturation on Mexican American men and women by examining the mediating effects of social context, family conflict and psychological functioning. Participants were 148 Mexican Americans (67% female; M age 23 years) from three state universities in California and Texas who completed self-report surveys. In multivariate analyses controlling for age, maternal education, living situation, and site, linguistic acculturation was associated with increased alcohol use and misuse among women but not men. Two social context variables (social facilitation and family drinking) mediated the association between acculturation and alcohol use (heavy drinking, past year alcohol use, and a composite drinking variable) among women. The findings highlight the importance of social context for understanding alcohol use by Latina college students and indicate directions for future research and intervention development.