ABSTRACT
Using structural equation modeling, we examined the relationship of Hispanicism on recent substance use and whether Americanism moderated the effect in a sample of 1,141 Hispanic adolescents. The Bicultural Involvement Questionnaire (BIQ) was used to determine the degree of individual comfort in both Hispanic (Hispanicism) and American (Americanism) cultures. Hispanicism was associated with greater family functioning (ß = 0.36, p < .05) and school bonding (ß = 0.31, p < .01); Americanism moderated the effect of Hispanicism on substance use (ß = 0.92, p < .01). Findings suggest that Hispanic culture was protective against substance use, however those effects differed depending on level of Americanism.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of an evidence-based, parent-centered intervention, Familias Unidas, delivered by nonresearch personnel, in preventing substance use (alcohol, illicit drugs) and sex without a condom among Hispanic adolescents. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (n = 746) evaluated the effectiveness of Familias Unidas among Hispanic eighth graders (age range = 12-16 years), relative to prevention as usual, within a public school system. School personnel, including social workers and mental health counselors, were trained to deliver the evidence-based intervention. Participant recruitment, intervention delivery, and follow-up ran from September 2010 through June 2014 in Miami-Dade County, Florida. RESULTS: Familias Unidas was effective in preventing drug use from increasing and prevented greater increases in sex without a condom 30 months after baseline, relative to prevention as usual. Familias Unidas also had a positive impact on family functioning and parental monitoring of peers at 6 months after baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a parent-centered preventive intervention program in preventing risky behaviors among Hispanic youths. Findings highlight the feasibility of training nonresearch personnel on effectively delivering a manualized intervention in a real-world setting.
Subject(s)
Condoms/statistics & numerical data , Hispanic or Latino , Parent-Child Relations , Primary Prevention/organization & administration , Risk-Taking , School Health Services/organization & administration , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Substance-Related Disorders/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior , Female , Florida , Health Services Research , Humans , Male , Program EvaluationABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emerging adulthood is often marked with elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression. Hispanic emerging adults may face cultural stressors such as ethnic discrimination that further increase levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. The study aims were to examine if (a) self-esteem mediated effects of ethnic discrimination on symptoms of anxiety and depression, and (b) if gender moderated the indirect effects of discrimination. DESIGN: The study design was cross-sectional self-report. METHOD: Two moderated mediation models were tested, with 1084 Hispanic emerging adults (ages 18-25) enrolled in institutions of post-secondary in the United States. RESULTS: Results indicated that (a) higher ethnic discrimination was associated with higher anxiety symptoms (ß = .05, p = .04), higher depression symptoms (ß = .06, p = .02), and lower self-esteem (ß = -.30, p < .001); (b) self-esteem mediated the associations of ethnic discrimination with anxiety and depression symptoms; and (c) gender moderated the indirect effects of discrimination, whereby self-esteem was a stronger mediator among men than women. Each moderated mediation model explained 26% of variability in symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the mediating effects of self-esteem linking ethnic discrimination with symptoms of anxiety and depression vary between genders.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/psychology , Hispanic or Latino/psychology , Racism/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Causality , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hispanic or Latino/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Male , Racism/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Peer, parent, and grandparent norms may be a protective factor for American Indian (AI) youth intentions to use substances, but little research has explored these influences on urban AI youth. Using OLS regression, a secondary data analysis examined the relationship between peer, parent and grandparent substance use norms, and intentions to use substances (N = 148). Findings indicated that grandparent and peer norms were the strongest predictors of intentions to use substances. Implications of these results include the need for concerted, culturally focused efforts that address AI youth substance use by targeting AI peer and family networks.
