Examining Longitudinal Associations Between Discrimination, Acculturation, Enculturation, Biological Sex and Drinking Outcomes Among Latinx College Students
Open Access
- Author:
- Wolfe, Erin
- Area of Honors:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Robert J Turrisi, Thesis Supervisor
Helen Marie Kamens, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Latinx
Alcohol Use
Discrimination
College
Acculturation
Enculturation
Biological Sex - Abstract:
- Background: College student alcohol use is a public health concern in the U.S. that has been associated with negative consequences. Risk factors for alcohol use and consequences vary by ethnicity and minority status. Latinx college students experience unique risk factors like discrimination, acculturation, and enculturation that may impact their drinking behaviors and alcohol-related consequences. Drinking behaviors also vary by biological sex and gender-related cultural norms. However, less is known about how these risk factors interact and affect Latinx student drinking throughout the four years of college. The current study examined longitudinal associations between discrimination, acculturation, enculturation, biological sex, and drinking outcomes among Latinx college students. Methods: Latinx students attending three large and geographically diverse U.S. public universities completed surveys during their first (T1), second (T2), third (T3), and fourth (T4) years of college (N=245; Mage=18.27; 73% female). Structural equation modeling was used to analyze associations between discrimination, acculturation, enculturation, biological sex and drinking outcomes. Drinking outcomes were measured as typical drinking, peak drinking, and consequences. Results: Discrimination was significantly directly positively associated with consequences at T1 and T2, and indirectly through typical drinking at T4. Enculturation was significantly directly negatively associated with consequences at T1, and indirectly through typical and peak drinking at T3. The interaction between acculturation and enculturation was significantly indirectly associated with consequences at T1 through peak drinking. Participants who were high on both acculturation and enculturation consumed the least number of drinks on peak drinking occasions. Conclusions: Latinx college students with higher levels of discrimination in the first two years of college experienced more consequences. In their fourth year, this relationship was mediated by typical drinking. Acculturation was not associated with drinking outcomes. Students with higher levels of enculturation in their first year had lower typical drinking, lower peak drinking, and experienced less consequences. Students with high levels of both acculturation and enculturation reported lower peak drinking and experienced less consequences in the first year of college. Biological sex did not mediate the relationship between acculturation and drinking outcomes or enculturation and drinking outcomes. Culturally sensitive interventions should address discrimination and enculturation throughout college to reduce risky drinking and consequences in Latinx college students.