A Theoretical Examination of Immigrant Status and Substance Use among Latino College Students

ABSTRACT

Drawing on survey data from a sample of Latino college students, we examine the generalizability of social learning theory, general strain theory, social bond theory, and self-control theory to a Latino population and consider how these four theories can elaborate on the relationship between immigrant status and substance use. We find that social learning and general strain provide the most robust explanations of substance use across four outcomes. Also, third-plus generation respondents generally reported more substance use than first-generation respondents. Our findings suggest that this latter trend is due mostly to varying effect sizes in social learning by immigrant status.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ Due to length concerns and prior work that has reviewed each theory extensively, we provide brief summaries of each theory.

² The specific substance use wording for the social learning processes: a) heavy drinking: “get/getting/got drunk” b) marijuana use: “use/using/used marijuana” c) illicit prescription drug use: “use/using/used prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you/them or use/using/used them only for the feeling or experience it causes” d) hard drug: “use/using/used other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, LSD, crack, ecstasy, methamphetamine, or steroids”.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Grindal

Matthew Grindal is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Idaho. He is a quantitative sociologist who studies the theoretical mechanisms that link ethnic identity processes to the health and delinquency outcomes of adolescents and young adults. He is specifically interested in the general mechanisms specified by the social psychological literature (e.g., verification, enhancement, perceptions of threat, and intergroup attitudes) and the micro-level mechanisms traditionally employed in criminological theory (i.e., social learning, social bonds, strain, and self-control).

Amanda Admire

Amanda Admire is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Riverside and a National Science Foundation Fellow. Her research examines inequality, policing, and intimate partner violence.

Tanya Nieri

Tanya Nieri is Associate Professor of Sociology at University of California at Riverside. Her research interests include causes and consequences of acculturation, particularly among immigrant families and youths; youth problem behaviors, particularly substance use and violence; the role of culture in health and health disparities; and community-based prevention and health promotion interventions. Her research tends to focus on Latinos, particularly those of Mexican-heritage in the United States. At UCR, Nieri is affiliated with the Presley Center for Crime and Justice Studies, School of Public Policy and the Center for Healthy Communities, School of Medicine.