Substance Use and Discrimination Among Southeast Asian and Latino Immigrants
Author(s):
Ramakrishnan, Muthukrishnan
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ph.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : Alliant International University, 2014.
Pages:
93
Language:
English
Abstract:
For many immigrants the process of acculturation can be stressful and previous studies have shown that the longer immigrants live in the U.S. the greater their risk for substance use. The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationships between place of birth, length of residency, discrimination and substance use among Southeast Asian and Latino immigrants. This study examined secondary data that originated from a population-based health survey and focused on respondents who took the survey in Hmong (N=158), Vietnamese (N=148), and Spanish (N=341). Results indicated that U.S.-born respondents were significantly associated with both higher alcohol and tobacco use than foreign-born respondents. Results also indicated that U.S.-born respondents perceived significantly higher discrimination than foreign-born respondents. Results indicated that while discrimination was associated with both higher alcohol and tobacco use for foreign-born Vietnamese and Latino men, discrimination was associated only with higher alcohol use for foreign-born Hmong men. For women, discrimination was associated with both higher alcohol and tobacco use only for foreign-born Latino women, but not for foreign-born Hmong and Vietnamese women. As expected, results indicated a positive relationship between length of residency in the U.S. and alcohol use for the entire sample except for foreign-born Hmong men. While Hmong, Vietnamese, and Latino immigrant men had a negative relationship between length of residency and tobacco use, the study found that Vietnamese and Latino immigrant women had a positive relationship between length of residency and tobacco use. The study also found that the relationship between length of residency in the U.S. and alcohol use is partially mediated by discrimination only for foreign-born Latino men and women. The present study found a positive association between chronic discrimination and engagement in heavy drinking for foreign-born Southeast Asian men and Latino men and women. Findings from this study may alert clinicians to be sensitive to discrimination experienced amongst Southeast Asian and Latino populations (even among the U.S.-born individuals) and to motivate them to identify potential stressors for U.S.-born Hmong, Vietnamese, and Latino individuals and the associated risk for psychological stressors. High prevalence of discrimination found in this sample of Southeast Asian and Latino immigrants may further strengthen the literature in demonstrating the significance of discrimination and shape mental health outreach services for underserved immigrant populations. The effectiveness of tobacco prevention strategies targeting Southeast Asian and Latino immigrants may increase when they take into consideration the findings of this study which suggest that heavier tobacco users may be less acculturated men and more acculturated women.