Binge drinking and African-Americans: a partial test of primary socialization theory

ABSTRACT

Objective: Binge drinking among African-Americans is an important area of research; however, little research has examined this phenomenon using theory. The purpose of this study is to provide an examination of African-American binge drinking using primary socialization theory.

Methods: Using data from a national sample of African-American adolescents (n = 1954), this research fills an important gap in the literature. Binary logistic regression was used to show links between the theoretical concepts and binge drinking behaviors.

Results: Findings support variables that are associated with primary socialization theory including poor parental bonds and associations with substance using peers as significantly related to binge drinking behaviors of African American youth.

Conclusions: Specifically, the results challenge a key assumption to primary socialization theory because peer association and poor parental relations have direct links with African-American binge drinking.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary socialization theory
• binge drinking
• African Americans