Alcohol Initiation Among Recently Immigrated Hispanic Adolescents: Roles of Acculturation and Sociocultural Stress

• Published in: American journal of orthopsychiatry 2019, Vol.89 (5), p.569-578
• Main Authors: Meca, Alan, Zamboanga, Byron L., Lui, P. Priscilla, Schwartz, Seth J., Lorenzo-Blanco, Elma I., Gonzales-Backen, Melinda A., Cano, Miguel Ángel, Szapocznik, José, Soto, Daniel W., Unger, Jennifer B., Baezconde-Garbanati, Lourdes, Kubilus, Richie, Villamar, Juan A., Lizzi, Karina M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - ethnology; Adolescents; Alcohol; Alcohol Use; Discrimination; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic or Latino - psychology; Hispanic or Latino - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic people; Human; Humans; Immigration; Latinos/Latinas; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Sociocultural Factors; Stress; Stress, Psychological - ethnology; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Teenagers; Test Construction; Underage Drinking; Underage Drinking - ethnology; Underage Drinking - psychology; Underage Drinking - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0002-9432; 1939-0025; 1939-0025
• DOI: 10.1037/ort0000352

There is a growing recognition for the need for research to explore the unique and interactive effects of acculturation and sociocultural stress on alcohol initiation. Building on this research agenda, the current study sought to explore the independent and interactive effects of acculturation (i.e., heritage and U.S. cultural practices and identification) and sociocultural stress (i.e., perceived discrimination, perceived context of reception, and bicultural stress) on alcohol initiation among recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents. Data were taken from a 6-wave longitudinal study with 302 recently immigrated Hispanic adolescents (53% boys; Mage = 14.51 years at baseline; range = 14-17 years) and their families. Discrete-time survival models indicated that none of the acculturation indicators directly predicted alcohol initiation. Sociocultural stress-and specifically, bicultural stress-predicted alcohol initiation. There were significant interactions between acculturation and sociocultural stress in predicting alcohol initiation. Further research considering multiple components of acculturation and sociocultural stressors is needed to broaden our understanding of the potential role of sociocultural processes in alcohol initiation among Hispanic youth. Public Policy Relevance Statement The current study was designed to address the need for policies related to preventing alcohol initiation among Hispanic immigrants. Findings suggest that the stresses associated with navigating multiple cultural contexts and belonging to an ethnic minority and immigrant group contribute to alcohol initiation among Hispanic youth who recently moved to the United States. Results from the study highlight the need for alcohol prevention/intervention programing with this population to address sociocultural stressors and consider the nuanced effects between bicultural stress and youths' retention of their cultural heritage and adoption of the receiving society's culture.