A social interaction learning model approach to understand adverse childhood experiences and drug use among Latinx youth

Abstract

Latinx youth, members of an ethnic minority group growing faster than the national growth rate, are at increased risk of experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) but it remains unclear how ACEs relate to externalizing behaviors, such as substance use and behaviors leading to injury and violence, in this population. In a sample of 100 Latinx youth, the current study examined how ACEs related to drug use and behaviors leading to injury and violence. Exposure to ACEs was associated with increased drug use, and that association was significantly moderated by behaviors leading to injury and violence for Latina adolescents. Given these findings, more attention needs to be diverted to screening for ACEs and externalizing behaviors in Latina girls.

Keywords:

• Adverse childhood experiences
• drug use
• Latinx adolescents
• social interaction learning theory

Disclosure statement

We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

None of the authors have conflicts to disclose. This work was supported by the LULAC Latino Health Summit Project Grant through the Center for Clinical & Translational Science & Training at the University of Cincinnati (UC), the Seeman and Frakes Graduate Student Award at UC, the Graduate Student Fellow award at UC, and the Research Award from the Hispanic Neuropsychological Society. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 1610397.