A Study of the Relations among Family Characteristics, Level of Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Substance Abuse among Latino Adolescents
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Authors
Falahat, Nazi
Issue Date
2000
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Latino adolescents are the fastest-growing ethnic minority group in the United States. Although research into the etiology of substance abuse among adolescents has increased substantially over the last few decades, Latino adolescent substance use has received limited attention. The purpose of this study was to examine the relative influence of acculturation, acculturative stress, and family functioning on Latino adolescent substance abuse. The sample consisted of 37 female and male Latino adolescents attending middle and high schools in the San Francisco Bay area. A questionnaire packet including a demographic questionnaire, an Alcohol and Drug survey, the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, the SAFE acculturative stress scale, and the California Inventory for Family Assessment was administered to the sample. The findings indicated higher rates of alcohol and marijuana use among Latino females than males. There was also a difference between the influence of each parent on the behavior of daughters and sons. For female adolescents, receiving warmth and care from their mothers was negatively related to marijuana use. Female adolescents who used marijuana reported receiving less warmth and care from mothers than nonusers. Similarly, male adolescents receiving more time and nurturance from their fathers was negatively related to drinking. Male adolescents who drank reported receiving less time and nurturance from fathers than did non-drinkers. It was also found that the level of acculturative stress experienced by female adolescents was inversely related to receiving warmth from the father and receiving warmth and time from the mother. In contrast, however, among male adolescents, a moderate though non-significant positive relationship was found between receiving nurturance from their father and acculturative stress. In terms of the influence of acculturation, no relationship was found between the level of acculturation and adolescents' drug/alcohol use. In addition, contrary to previous studies, it was found that Latino adolescents who do not drink alcohol experience more stress than those who do. Findings on the influence of the parents on the prevention of substance abuse in Latino adolescents offer more support in involving nuclear family members, especially the parents, in the drug/alcohol intervention process.