Psychosocial Risk Factors and Latino Youth Substance Use
Using an Ecological Model, this study explored the relationship between the Ecological Model psychosocial risk factors and substance use. Specifically, we focus on family cohesion, family conflict, school stressors, peer stressors, and community/neighborhood violence and their relationship to alcohol and marijuana use among Latino adolescents. A sample of Mexican-American, ninth and tenth grade (n=93) students from public and private schools were given a survey packet including the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Multicultural Events Scale for Adolescents, and the Family Environment Scale. Regression analyses showed that family cohesion and community/neighborhood violence were the best predictors of Latino adolescent substance use. Our data suggests that family and community variables are important to consider when creating prevention and treatment programs for substance use among adolescents.
School:
University of Texas at San Antonio
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Jorge Ramirez Garcia
Department of Research Advisor:
Psychology
Year of Publication:
2007