![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
This study examined the effects of demographic and family influences on alcohol use among White and African American youth. Data comprised 400 target youth with a mean age of 11.04 years (SD = 1.68), 51.2% male, 49.8% African American and 50.2% White. Youth alcohol use was hypothesized to be influenced by the child's age, family income, parent status, parent alcohol use, sibling alcohol use, and family cohesion. A four-group multiple-sample structural equation model examined means and relations across ethnicities and genders. Parent and sibling use were significant predictors of target youth alcohol use. Parent status influenced sibling alcohol use, and family cohesion. Income was related to parent alcohol use. Despite a few structural and mean differences, the overall model was consistent across the four groups.