Characteristics of Chinese and Korean Americans in Outpatient Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders: Examining Heterogeneity Among Asian American Subgroups

Abstract

This study examined characteristics between Chinese Americans and Korean Americans who received treatment for alcohol use problems, using case records of 103 Chinese Americans and 108 Korean Americans. Findings show that the majority of Chinese Americans and Korean Americans were referred for treatment by the legal system and denied having alcohol problems. Significant differences were found between the groups in income, education, and types and quantity of alcohol use. Participants from neither group attended Alcoholics Anonymous. The differences in characteristics between the two groups with underscore the importance of considering the heterogeneity of Asian Americans when designing intervention programs for alcohol problems.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol abuse
• alcohol use disorders
• Asian Americans
• treatment

Acknowledgments

The findings in this study are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessary represent the Child Center of New York.

This project was granted exempt status from the Institute Review Board of New York University based on the use of secondary analysis of existing data.

The authors thank The Child Center of New York for allowing them to use the data.

Notes

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

^a Chi-square analysis.

^b t test.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

^a Chi-square analysis.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

^a Chi-square analysis with Bonferroni corrected p-values for multiple answers.

^b t test.

^c Chi-square analysis.

More than 100% due to rounding or due to multiple answers.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

^a Chi-square analysis with Bonferroni corrected p-values for multiple answers.

More than 100% due to multiple answers.