Hispanic/Latino Adolescents' Alcohol Use: Influence of Family Structure, Perceived Peer Norms, and Family Members' Alcohol Use.

BACKGROUND

Family structure and value system among Hispanic/Latino population are changing. However, very few studies are examining the combination of the influence of family structure, parental and sibling alcohol use, perceived peer norms about drinking, and alcohol use among Hispanic/Latino adolescents.

PURPOSE

This study examined the associations among family structure parental and sibling substance use, perceived peer norm toward drinking and alcohol use among a sample of adolescents in the US.

METHODS

We assessed cross-sectional data from a 2010 study of 1,523 high school students from a school district in Los Angeles. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 23.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that family structure was not significantly associated with adolescents' alcohol use. Having family members' who consumed alcohol, perception of close friends' attitudes toward drinking, and perceived drinking prevalence among peers increased the likelihood of drinking.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest that alcohol use behaviors of members of the family unit, perception of drinking prevalence among peers, and perception of friends attitude to drinking (not their actual drinking behavior) increased the likelihood of drinking.

TRANSLATION TO HEALTH EDUCATION PRACTICE

We call Health Education Specialists develop awareness programs targeted at correcting adolescents' normative perceptions towards alcohol use prevalence among their peers.