Religious, cultural and social cognitive correlates of alcohol use among Turks and Moroccans in The Netherlands

Abstract

This study examined religious, cultural and social cognitive predictors of alcohol use among second-generation Turks and Moroccans in The Netherlands. Data were obtained from an experimental study in which 189 Turks and 166 Moroccans responded to a mailed questionnaire and 111 Turks and 116 Moroccans responded to a face-to-face interview. Logistic and linear regression models examined religious, cultural and social cognitive correlates of alcohol use, adjusting for data collection mode and relevant sociodemographic factors. Additional regression models examined interaction effects with ethnicity. Both religious (practising Islam and having traditional religious beliefs) and cultural factors (not feeling accepted in Dutch society) were related to drinking. However, data seem to indicate that social cognitive factors i.e. the influence of family members and Turkish/Moroccan friends (both their drinking behaviour and their opinions about alcohol use) and alcohol expectancies were more important in predicting alcohol use among second-generation Turks and Moroccans.

• Religion
• culture
• social cognition
• alcohol use
• Turks
• Moroccans

Notes

¹ Additional analyses (t-test for continuous factors and chi-square statistic for categorical factors) showed that Turks use the Dutch language less often, identify less with the Dutch culture, but feel more accepted by Dutch people compared to Moroccans. Furthermore, significant differences were found for the cultural and religious beliefs of ‘Drinking brings shame to your family’ and ‘Drinking makes you a bad Muslim’, showing that Turks agreed less with these statements than Moroccans. Regarding religious practices, we found that significantly more Moroccans reported praying 5 times a day and fasting during Ramadan.

² Chi-square statistics revealed significant differences between Turks and Moroccans in descriptive and injunctive norms, showing less drinking family members and less drinking Moroccan friends and more family members and more Moroccan friends disapproving of alcohol among Moroccans.

³t-tests showed no significant differences in expectancies and attitude between Turks and Moroccans. For differences in descriptive norms and injunctive norms between Turks and Moroccans see footnote 2.