Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Early Adolescents in the United States: An Examination of Behavioral Risk and Protective Profiles

Abstract

Few studies have examined the behavioral and protective correlates of alcohol use among young Hispanics. Using a national sample (N = 7,606), logistic regression and latent profile analysis (LPA) are employed to examine the relationships between alcohol use, psychosocial factors, and externalizing behavior among Hispanics during early adolescence. Early drinkers are more likely to report truancy, fighting, smoking, and drug use. LPA results revealed a three class solution. Classes identified included: psychosocial risk (41.11%), moderate protection (39.44%), and highly religious (19.44%). Alcohol use is clearly associated with externalizing behavior; however, an important degree of psychosocial and behavioral heterogeneity nevertheless exists.

Keywords :

• Hispanic
• alcohol
• adolescence
• externalizing behavior
• protective factors

THE AUTHORS

Christopher P. Salas-Wright, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include youth problem behavior, religiosity and spirituality, and adolescent substance abuse and HIV prevention, particularly among Latino youth in both the United States and in Latin America.

Lynn Hernandez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University. Her primary research interests focus on the development of culturally appropriate prevention and intervention programs for adolescents of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Brandy R. Maynard, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Saint Louis University. Her research interests include the etiology, prevention and treatment of adolescent behavioral and mental health problems, particularly around violence, delinquency, and academic risk.

Leia Y. Saltzman, M.S.W., is a doctoral student at Boston College in the Graduate School of Social Work. Her current research interests include community and individual resiliency following traumatic events. In particular she interested in factors that promote resiliency and positive adaptation.

Michael G. Vaughn, Ph.D., is Professor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. He has contributed more than 200 scholarly publications across a wide range of areas. His current research interests include youth violence, adolescent psychopathy, and drug use and abuse in relation to antisocial behavior over the life course.