International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 16, Issue 22, 2019

Pre-and post-immigration correlates of alcohol misuse among young adult recent latino immigrants: An ecodevelopmental approach (Article) (Open Access)

Levitt E. , Ainuz B. , Pourmoussa A. , Acuna J. , De La Rosa M. , Zevallos J. , Wang W. , Rodriguez P. , Castro G. , Sanchez M.*
  • a Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • b Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • c Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • d Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • e Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • f Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • g Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • h Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • i Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • j Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States, Department of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States

Abstract

Latinos in the United States experience numerous alcohol-related health disparities. There is accumulating evidence that pre-immigration factors are associated with post-immigration alcohol use, but the explanation for health disparities remains unclear. The present study is a secondary analysis of data from the Recent Latino Immigrant Study (RLIS), the first community-based cohort study to examine the pre-to post-immigration alcohol use trajectories of young adult Latino immigrants during their initial years in the United States. Exploratory analysis and hierarchical multiple logistic regression were performed to assess associations between various pre-and post-immigration factors and alcohol misuse among young adult Latino immigrants early in the immigration process. Using an ecodevelopmental approach, we examined potential social and environmental determinants across multiple levels of influence associated with post-immigration alcohol misuse in this population. The study sample consisted of 474 young adult Latino immigrants between the ages of 18–34. The sample was comprised of the following national/regional origins: Cuban (43%), South American (28.7%), and Central American (28.3%). Approximately half of the sample (49.6%) reported a family history of substance use problems (FHSUP+). Participants who reported FHSUP+ and who engaged in alcohol misuse prior to immigrating to the US were more likely to engage in post-immigration alcohol misuse. Results revealed various social and environmental factors associated with pre-immigration alcohol misuse in this population. Study findings can inform culturally tailored prevention interventions aimed at mitigating problem drinking behaviors among young adult recent Latino immigrants. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

social determinants of health minority health health disparities Health Risk and protective factors Alcohol dependence

Index Keywords

educational status immigrant acculturative stress health risk environmental determinant alcoholic beverage immigration human sex difference social determinants of health health status social support United States Young Adult Hispanic male environmental factor female stress risk factor young population Latino people Article adult alcohol abuse cohort analysis family history secondary analysis
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85074635761&doi=10.3390%2fijerph16224391&partnerID=40&md5=d2255d77933d8e605acbb6ed7462532d
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16224391
ISSN: 16617827
Original Language: English