Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 14, Issue 3, 2012, Pages 371-378

Alcohol use among latinos: A comparison of pre-immigration, post-immigration, and US born Latinos (Article)

De La Rosa M.* , Sanchez M. , Dillon F.R. , Ruffin B.A. , Blackson T. , Schwartz S.
  • a Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 356, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • b Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 356, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • c Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 356, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • d Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 356, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • e Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., PCA 356, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • f Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

US born Latinos have higher rates of alcohol use than Latino immigrants. Yet, little is known about drinking patterns of Latinos before their immigration to the US This exploratory study compares the past month regular, binge, and heavy alcohol use patterns of Latino immigrants prior to immigration with that of post-immigration and US born Latinos. Data on past month alcohol use prior to immigration was collected from 516 recent adult Latino immigrants. Results were compared with US born and post-immigration Latinos using national aggregate data. Alcohol use patterns among Latino immigrants prior to immigration were similar to that of US born Latinos. Alcohol use patterns were lower among Latinos after immigration when compared to pre-immigration and US born Latinos. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of the drinking patterns of Latinos in the US before they immigrated to this country. Findings suggest more research is needed to uncover the underlying factors associated with the higher rates of alcohol use among Latinos prior to their immigration when compared to alcohol use patterns of post-immigration Latinos. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011.

Author Keywords

Latino Immigration Alcohol Alcohol use Excessive drinking

Index Keywords

Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior psychological aspect demography human statistics Interview, Psychological comparative study Time Factors Health Surveys alcoholism Hispanic Americans Residence Characteristics United States Young Adult Humans Hispanic Adolescent chi square distribution male Chi-Square Distribution Emigrants and Immigrants female Psychometrics psychologic test Article psychometry Retrospective Studies adult migration Alcoholic Intoxication alcohol intoxication retrospective study time health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84860833597&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-011-9498-x&partnerID=40&md5=4da314c47b92a98f6215da1de789befb
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-011-9498-x
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English