Ethnic Group Differences in Substance Use, Depression, Peer Relationships, and Parenting Among Adolescents Receiving Brief Alcohol Counseling

Abstract

This study examined differences in substance use and related risk factors in a matched sample of Hispanic and White non-Hispanic adolescents receiving brief alcohol counseling. Findings revealed that the White non-Hispanic adolescents reported smoking a higher number of cigarettes per day. The Hispanic adolescents reported perceiving less acceptance from the neighborhood environment in which they live, whereas their parents reported monitoring their teens less than the parents' of White non-Hispanic adolescents. Consistent with the findings found in community samples, the overall findings of this study suggest that Hispanic and White non-Hispanic adolescents enrolled in this alcohol intervention have similar baseline characteristics.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescents
• brief alcohol counseling
• ethnicity
• substance use

Supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism grant number R01 AA013385; PI: Spirito.

Notes

^a For the substance use variables, with exception of drinks per drinking occasion, maximum number of drinks, and Adolescent Drinking Inventory total score, analyses were conducted using transformed variables; however, means and standard deviations are in the original metric.

∗P < .05.

^a Analyses for the social preference from school environment variable were conducted using a transformed variable; however, the mean and standard deviation are reported in the original metric. Unless otherwise noted, measures were teen report.

∗P < .05.