Gender Roles, Externalizing Behaviors, and Substance Use Among Mexican-American Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 232164
• Journal: Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2010 Pages: 283-307
• Author(s): Stephen Kullis, Ph.D.; Flavio F. Marsiglia, Ph.D.; Julie L. Nagoshi, M.S.W.
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 25 pages
• Grant Number(s): R49/CCR42172; 1K01CE000496; R-24 DA 13937; P20MD002316-02
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; US Dept of Health & Human Services; National Ctr on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined substance use in Mexican-American adolescents.

Abstract

A sample of 60 male and 91 female Mexican-American adolescents (age 13-18) were administered measures of positive (i.e., assertive masculinity, affective femininity) and negative (i.e., aggressive masculinity, submissive femininity) gender roles, internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors, peer substance use, and own substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana). Negative gender roles were significantly correlated with internalizing and externalizing problems for both boys and girls, with aggressive masculinity also predicting peer substance use for both genders. Assertive masculinity significantly predicted lower alcohol use in boys, and this effect was not mediated by internalizing problems, externalizing problems, or peer substance use. Negative gender roles significantly predicted higher alcohol use in girls, but this effect was almost completely mediated by internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and peer substance use. Results are discussed in terms of gender role socialization among Mexican-Americans. Tables and references (Published Abstract)