A Family Based Model of Hispanic Adolescent Substance Use

Abstract

While adolescent substance use has been the focus of extensive research over the last few decades, Hispanic adolescent substance use has received only limited attention. Studies exploring predictors of Hispanic adolescent substance use have failed to adequately explore the contribution of the family on substance use. The present study examined the relative influence of family, school and peer influences, perceived student substance use, family substance use, and acculturation on a sample of Mexican-American early adolescents using structural equations modeling. The findings varied for males and females. Family functioning and family use directly influenced substance use for males. Family functioning influenced school and peer variables, however, these were unrelated to use. For females, family use and student use directly influenced substance use. Family functioning influenced family use and school and peer attachments. School and peer attachment predicted perceived student use. These findings suggest that family functioning has a primary role in Hispanic adolescent substance use.

Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity as Predictors of Drug Norms and Drug Use Among Preadolescents in the US Southwest

“…Mexican American students who used marijuana and scored poorly on academic achievement tests were more likely to be absent from school and dissatisfied with school than those students who did not smoke marijuana and performed well on achievement tests (Codina et al, 1998). School factors of attachment, involvement, and achievement were found to predict perceived student use of substances, but did not predict actual use (Brooks et al, 1998). Another study found that academic achievement did not predict inhalant use (Mason and Roehe, 1996).…”

“…Higher levels of acculturation have been associated with drug use and delinquency among Puerto Rican, Mexican American, and African American youth (Brook et al, 1998;Marsiglia and Waller, 2002), drug use among Hispanic girls at risk for suicide (Fraser et al, 1998), and smoking among male, Puerto Rican high school students (Smith et al, 1991). In separate studies, Brooks et al (1998) and Barrett et al (1991) found that acculturation had only a weak and indirect effect on Hispanic youth substance use. Likewise, no relationship was found between acculturation and inhalant use among Hispanic youth (Bonnheim and Korman, 1985;Simpson and Barrett, 1991), general substance use , or smoking among Hispanic adolescents.…”

Mexican American Adolescents’ Cultural Orientation, Externalizing Behavior and Academic Engagement: The Role of Traditional Cultural Values

“…Familism values are a set of normative beliefs espoused by Latino populations that stress the obligations and support that family members owe to both nuclear and extended kin and the responsibility of family members to consider the needs and desires of the family when making decisions about their own behavior (Sabogal, Marin, OteroSabogal, Marin & Perez-Stable, 1987). Familism values are expected to reduce risk for externalizing behavior by cementing strong bonds of attachment to the family, ensuring that the family remains a strong source of influence, and fostering conventional ties that discourage Latino youth from engaging in a variety of problem behaviors (Brooks, Stuewig, & LeCroy, 1998;Keefe, Padilla, & Carlos, 1978). Ties with conventional others are also promoted by traditional religious values, the third value dimension selected for inclusion (Mason & Windle, 2001).…”

Trajectories of Acculturation and Enculturation in Relation to Heavy Episodic Drinking and Marijuana Use in a Sample of Mexican American Serious Juvenile Offenders

“…Much of the past empirical evidence has suggested that becoming acculturated has negative outcomes, including increases in alcohol and other illicit drug use (Balcazar et al, 1996;Brooks et al, 1998;Epstein et al, 1996;Felix-Ortiz & Newcomb, 1995;Gil et al, 2000;GuilamoRamos et al, 2004;Marsiglia et al, 2004;Perez et al, 1980;Vega et al, 1993). There has also been some suggestion that becoming bicultural, rather than just being highly connected to the ethnic culture, is likely to be associated with positive mental health and lowered substance use outcomes (Felix-Ortiz & Newcomb, 1995;Gonzales & Kim, 1997).…”

“…Similarly to studies of mixed Latino adolescent groups, studies of Mexican American adolescent groups have found higher acculturative status to be associated with higher substance use (Brooks, Stuewig, & LeCroy, 1998;Delva et al, 2005;Felix-Ortiz & Newcomb, 1995;Balcazar, Peterson, & Cobas, 1996;Perez, Padilla, Ramirez, Ramirez, & Rodriguez, 1980). However, with a few notable exceptions (i.e., Felix-Ortiz & Newcomb, 1995;Marsiglia et al, 2004), most of these studies, and those studies of mixed Latino adolescent groups, have had very limited assessments of acculturative/enculturative status, often focusing almost exclusively upon language use and often based upon a uni-axial perspective.…”