Suchergebnisse

AbstractSubstance use among youth is associated with adverse consequences and may increase vulnerability to addiction and psychiatric disorders later in life. Sociocultural factors such as discrimination have been associated with substance use, while positive cultural resources, such as enculturation and familism, have demonstrated protective outcomes. However, few studies have highlighted how family factors influence substance use among Latinx youth during their transition from adolescence to young adulthood. This study used longitudinal data to explore the associations between sociocultural factors, family factors, childhood adversity, and substance use among Latinx youth. The data were from a longitudinal study of acculturation and substance use among Latinx youth in Southern California (n = 1257, 52.1% female, mixed socioeconomic status). The average age was 14.5 (SD = 0.39). Data collection began in 2005 and ended in 2016. Hierarchical regression models showed that discrimination was associated with higher problematic alcohol susceptibility. Childhood adversity was associated with higher odds of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use. Parental communication was associated with lower odds of problematic alcohol and marijuana use. To promote youth well‐being, preventive efforts should prioritize reducing childhood adversity and discrimination, while fostering positive family relationships. Overall, our findings suggest the need for interventions targeting various systemic levels to effectively address substance use among Latinx youth.

In California, Hispanic children are 2.5 times as likely to have a family member in prison than their non-Hispanic White peers. Despite these ethnic disparities, few studies have examined the longitudinal impact of household incarceration on age-salient developmental transitions among Hispanic emerging adults. Using a matching method to control for demographic and psychosocial factors, we investigated whether emerging adults who were raised in families with an incarcerated adult experienced labor force participation, family formation, education, and criminal justice involvement differently than their peers without a history of family incarceration. Participants who had a history of household incarceration and who interacted with the criminal justice system themselves had significantly different transition experiences than their peers (higher odds of past year job loss, cohabitation, and having a child by age 20, and lower odds of pursuing a postsecondary education) and may be at increased risk of systematic disadvantage over the life course.