Role of Acculturation, Parenting, and Family in Hispanic/Latino Adolescent Substance Use: Findings From a Qualitative Analysis

• NCJ Number: 224560
• Journal: Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: 2008 Pages: 304-327
• Author(s): Karla D. Wagner; Anamara Ritt-Olson; Daniel W. Soto; Yaneth L. Rodriguez; Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati; Jennifer B. Unger
• Date Published: 2008
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA016310
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Focus groups were conducted with Hispanic/Latino parents and primarily Hispanic/Latino adolescents to examine the familial context of acculturation and adolescent substance use.

Abstract

Parents and adolescents held similar views in some areas, such as pride in ethnic identity and changes in language use but diverged in others, such as indicators of acculturation, gender differences in parenting, and ideas of freedom and independence. Participants in the focus groups did not endorse the association between acculturation and substance use that has been detected in quantitative studies. Implications for substance use prevention and treatment programs are discussed. Many studies have examined underlying influences on adolescent substance use. Among these, the role of acculturation (language use) and family may be particularly important among Hispanic/Latino adolescents in the United States. Focus groups were conducted with adolescents and parents as part of a larger study to understand the connection between acculturation and Hispanic/Latino adolescent substance use. The study consisted of 18 mothers and 16 students. Results were summarized in five categories: culture/ethnic identity, acculturation, parent-child conflict/relationships, gender, and adolescent substance use. Tables and references