Alatorre, S. (1995, August). Psychological distress and alcohol use in hispanic adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 24(4), 481-497.

OVERVIEW

Ethnic minority status has been considered a stressor for many cultural groups. For Hispanic adolescents, many sociocultural experiences related to acculturation process are perceived as stressful. Some problems related to acculturation include language use, intergroup relations, and family dynamics.

Alcohol use among Hispanics adolescents is at a higher level, possibly because they confront other stressful life events that are manifested in psychological and emotional distress.

According to Alcocer (1982):

Alcohol and other drug use is often used as a way of coping with conflicts in adapting to the norms and expectations of the dominant group and other difficult events and conditions that produce psychological distress.

The study presented in this article offers insight into the relationship between psychological distress and alcohol abuse in Hispanic adolescents. With better understanding, youth workers will be able to create appropriate and effective strategies of prevention and intervention with Hispanic adolescents.

METHOD

The study was conducted in a public school located in a low income neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Eighty-seven percent of the population of this school was Hispanic. The sample consisted of 171 (88 boys and 83 girls) Hispanic adolescents, with a median age of 14 years. Thirty-nine of the respondents were born in the United States, 26% in Mexico, 20% in El Salvador, 8% in Guatemala, 2% in Nicaragua, and 5% in other Latin America countries.

RESULTS

Eighty-three percent in the sample had used alcohol during the past twelve months. Of those who reported using alcohol, 36% had used alcohol no more than two times in the past year; 25% drank alcohol about once a month; 19% drank alcohol about two times per month, and about 3% drank alcohol two or three times per week.

Forty-two percent in the sample reported not having friends who use alcohol, 46% reported that no more than four of their friends used alcohol, and 12% reported that five or more of their friends use alcohol.

The results indicate that alcohol use is positively associated with psychosocial stress, anxiety, and depression. In fact, the most commonly reported stressor in this study was, "I have seen students being treated unfairly because of their cultural background."

Females reported higher depression and anxiety levels, but less alcohol use than males.

The first generation of Hispanics in the U.S. reported higher levels of psychosocial stress than did second generation Hispanics. However, second generation Hispanics reported drinking more frequently and having more friends who drink.

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to examine more closely the processes associated with acculturation and psychosocial adjustment of Hispanic adolescents and to conduct other studies of Hispanic adolescents at different economic levels.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Do you notice a significant proportion of adolescent Hispanics using alcohol?
2. Are you in an ethnic minority? Is this a factor of stress in your life? If you don’t belong to an ethnic minority, what stresses do you think members of ethnic minorities experience?
3. Is a difference in alcohol use between Anglo-Saxon and Hispanic adolescents? Explain.
4. Why might Hispanic male adolescents use more alcohol than Hispanic female adolescents?
5. How can you help solve this problem?

IMPLICATIONS

• The association between depression and alcohol use suggests that Hispanic adolescents are using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
• It is necessary to create effective prevention and intervention programs for Hispanic adolescents who use alcohol.
• More studies of Hispanic adolescent alcohol usage are needed.

Nora Garcia cCYS