Gender and Acculturation in Relation to Alcohol Use among Hispanic (Latino) Adults in Two Areas of the Northeastern United States

Abstract

Telephone surveys were conducted in English or Spanish for 665 Hispanic adult residents of Long Island (New York) and Connecticut in 1992. Reported alcohol use was higher among men than women. In multivariate analyses using logistic regression, both gender and level of acculturation (positive association) were associated with drinking 1 day or more during the past month and with drinking at least 1 day per week. The association between drinking and acculturation was much stronger among women than men; thus, the gender difference in drinking declined with increasing level of acculturation. Studies are needed to delineate the processes whereby gender and acculturation influence the drinking behavior of Hispanics in different geographic areas.

Key Words:

• Acculturation
• Alcohol use
• Hispanics
• Latinos
• Puerto Ricans