Alcohol Use Severity Among Adult Hispanic Immigrants: Examining the Roles of Family Cohesion,Social Support,and Gender |
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Authors: | Miguel Ángel Cano Mariana Sánchez Patria Rojas Daisy Ramírez-Ortiz Katherine L Polo Eduardo Romano |
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Institution: | 1. Florida International University, Department of Epidemiology, Miami, Florida, USA;2. Florida International University, Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Miami, Florida, USA;3. Florida International University, Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse, Miami, Florida, USA;4. Florida International University, Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Miami, Florida, USA;5. Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Impaired Driving Center, Calverton, Maryland, USA |
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Abstract: | Background: This study examined (a) the direct association of family cohesion on alcohol use severity among adult Hispanic immigrants; (b) the indirect association of family cohesion on alcohol use severity via social support; and (c) if gender moderates the direct and indirect associations between family cohesion and alcohol use severity. Method: Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 411 (men = 222, women = 189) participants from Miami-Dade, Florida. Results: Findings indicate that higher family cohesion was directly associated with higher social support and lower alcohol use severity. Higher social support was also directly associated with lower alcohol use severity. Additionally, family cohesion had an indirect association with alcohol use severity via social support. Moderation analyses indicated that gender moderated the direct association between family cohesion and alcohol use severity, but did not moderate the indirect association. Conclusions: Some potential clinical implications may be that strengthening family cohesion may enhance levels of social support, and in turn, lower alcohol use severity among adult Hispanic immigrants. Furthermore, strengthening family cohesion may be especially beneficial to men in efforts to lower levels of alcohol use severity. |
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Keywords: | Alcohol family cohesion social support Hispanic immigrants gender differences |
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