Substance use among Asian American adolescents: Influence of race, ethnicity, and acculturation in the context of key risk and protective factors.

Abstract

This study examines the relative influence of race/ethnicity, acculturation, peer substance use, and academic achievement on adolescent substance use among different Asian American ethnic groups and U.S. racial/ethnic groups. Data from the Wave 1 in-home sample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was used to examine lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana in a full adolescent sample of all racial/ethnic groups (N=20,745) and a subsample of Asian American adolescents (N=1,248). Path analysis examined the hypothesized relationships of peer substance use and acculturation as risk factors and academic achievement as a protective factor for racial/ethnic groups. The results indicated that when Asian American adolescents were compared to other major U.S. racial/ethnic groups, peer use and acculturation were both significant mediators of smoking, drinking, and marijuana use, and academic achievement mediated each type of use at a trend level. For Asian American ethnic groups, peer use is a risk factor and, to a lesser extent, academic achievement a protective factor for substance use. Also, although acculturation is a predictor of substance use, when peer use and academic achievement are taken into account, acculturation -- like ethnicity -- no longer predicts use. Mediation analyses indicated that: peer substance use mediates smoking, drinking, and marijuana use; academic achievement does not; and acculturation mediates substance use for some substances and some Asian American ethnic groups. The results are discussed for their implications for understanding how culturally-specific approaches can inform preventive interventions.

Relation of peer effects and school climate to substance use among Asian American adolescents

“…Our multivariate analyses corroborate results of previous research (e.g., Hussey et al, 2007;Thai et al, 2010) that firstgeneration of Asian American adolescents tend to consume less alcohol and recreational drugs than their native coethnics (third plus generation). However, no generational differences were shown on tobacco use.…”

The configuration protective model: Factors associated with adolescent behavioral and emotional problems

“…For instance, whereas researchers generally find that higher academic achievement is associated with reduced alcohol use (Kostelecky, 2005), tobacco use (Scal, Ireland, & Borowsky, 2003), and general substance use (Thai, Connell, & Tebes, 2010), this is not always the case (Fang, Barnes-Ceeny, & Schinke, 2011;Meyers, 2013). Similarly, research generally supports the notion that self-esteem and self-efficacy are protective against suicidal ideation (Babiss & Gangwisch, 2009;Kidd & Shahar, 2008;Sharaf, Thompson, & Walsh, 2009); however, Roberts, Roberts, and Xing (2010) failed to find this association.…”

Risky behaviors and educational attainment among young Mexican-origin mothers: The role of acculturative stress and the educational aspiration–expectation gap

“…In particular, prior findings indicate that greater experiences with acculturation related pressures (e.g., discrimination, social norms, language competencies) may be associated with higher levels of risky behavior engagement (e.g., alcohol and substance abuse, aggression, rule breaking) among immigrant minority adolescents and young adults (e.g., Latino, Asian; Forster et al, 2015; Gil et al, 2000; Kam, 2011; Thai, Connell, & Tebes, 2010). In a study with recently immigrated Hispanic youth, researchers found that higher levels of acculturation-related stress (e.g., embarrassment about having an accent or not speaking English well) were positively associated with deviant behaviors (i.e., aggression, rule breaking behavior; Forster et al, 2015).…”