Abstract
Large-scale surveys have shown elevated risk for many indicators of substance abuse among Native American and Mixed-Race adolescents
compared to other minority groups in the United States. This study examined underlying contextual factors associated with
substance abuse among a nationally representative sample of White, Native American, and Mixed-Race adolescents 12–17 years
of age, using combined datasets from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH 2006–2009, N = 46,675, 48.77 % female). Native American adolescents displayed the highest rate of past-month binge drinking and past-year
illicit drug use (14.06 and 30.91 %, respectively). Results of a logistic regression that included seven predictors of social
bonding, individual views of substance use, and delinquent peer affiliations showed that friendships with delinquent peers
and negative views of substance use were associated significantly with both substance abuse outcomes among White and Mixed-Race
adolescents and, to a lesser extent, Native American adolescents. The association of parental disapproval with binge drinking
was stronger for White than for Native American adolescents. Greater attention to specific measures reflecting racial groups’
contextual and historical differences may be needed to delineate mechanisms that discourage substance abuse among at-risk
minority adolescent populations.
compared to other minority groups in the United States. This study examined underlying contextual factors associated with
substance abuse among a nationally representative sample of White, Native American, and Mixed-Race adolescents 12–17 years
of age, using combined datasets from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH 2006–2009, N = 46,675, 48.77 % female). Native American adolescents displayed the highest rate of past-month binge drinking and past-year
illicit drug use (14.06 and 30.91 %, respectively). Results of a logistic regression that included seven predictors of social
bonding, individual views of substance use, and delinquent peer affiliations showed that friendships with delinquent peers
and negative views of substance use were associated significantly with both substance abuse outcomes among White and Mixed-Race
adolescents and, to a lesser extent, Native American adolescents. The association of parental disapproval with binge drinking
was stronger for White than for Native American adolescents. Greater attention to specific measures reflecting racial groups’
contextual and historical differences may be needed to delineate mechanisms that discourage substance abuse among at-risk
minority adolescent populations.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-16
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9789-0
- Authors
- Hsing-Jung Chen, Department of Social Work, Fu-Jen Catholic University, No. 510, Zhongzheng Rd., Xinzhuang Dist., New Taipei City, 24205 Taiwan
- Sundari Balan, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Rumi Kato Price, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, 660 S. Euclid Ave., Campus Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891