Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 17, Issue 6, 2015, Pages 1697-1704

Post-immigration Changes in Social Capital and Substance Use Among Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida: Differences by Documentation Status (Article)

Cyrus E.* , Trepka M.J. , Kanamori M. , Gollub E. , Fennie K. , Li T. , Albatineh A.N. , De La Rosa M.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • c Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • d Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • f Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • g Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
  • h Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States, School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States

Abstract

Changing social capital among recent Latino immigrants (RLIs) influences substance use post-immigration. This was a longitudinal study of 476 South/Central American RLIs examining social capital and substance use changes pre to post-immigration. Self-reported measures of social capital and substance use were compared between surveys administered within 1 year of immigration and 2 years post-immigration. Post-immigration, social capital, hazardous drinking and illicit drug use decreased. Women were less likely to engage in hazardous drinking [adjusted odds ratio (AOR).32, p < .001], and less likely to use illicit drugs (AOR.67, p = .01). Documented individuals with higher levels of ‘business’ social capital had increased odds of illicit drug use (AOR 2.20, p < .05). Undocumented individuals with higher levels of ‘friend and others’ social capital had decreased risk for hazardous drinking and illicit drug use (AOR.55, p < .01; AOR.56, p < .05). Documentation status moderated the relationship between social capital and substance use. RLIs can be targeted for primary prevention of substance abuse. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Social capital immigrants Substance use Documentation status

Index Keywords

social capital longitudinal study Alcohol Drinking drinking behavior human epidemiology Longitudinal Studies time factor Substance-Related Disorders Street Drugs Time Factors street drug social support drug dependence ethnology Hispanic Americans Undocumented Immigrants Florida Young Adult Humans migrant undocumented immigrant Hispanic Adolescent psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics adult
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84946480702&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-015-0191-3&partnerID=40&md5=41b74240b6ba14437d99dd97d4684a77
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0191-3
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 7
Original Language: English