Pre- and Post-Immigration Correlates of Alcohol Misuse among Young Adult Recent Latino Immigrants: An Ecodevelopmental Approach

Eli Levitt, Bar Ainuz, Austin Pourmoussa, Juan Acuna, Mario De La Rosa, Juan Zevallos, Weize Wang, Pura Rodriguez, Grettel Castro and Mariana Sanchez
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Eli Levitt: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Bar Ainuz: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Austin Pourmoussa: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Juan Acuna: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Mario De La Rosa: 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, USA
Juan Zevallos: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Weize Wang: 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, USA
Pura Rodriguez: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Grettel Castro: Department of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Mariana Sanchez: 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, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-19

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.

Keywords: minority health; health disparities; social determinants of health; alcohol dependence; risk and protective factors; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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