HyeonSuk Kim, MPH, PhD and Cleopatra Howard Caldwell, PhD. School of Public Health and School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, SPH II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, 734-763-8299, hyeonsuk@umich.edu

In the United States, substance use is a leading contributor to the nation’s health problems. Although substance use is widespread, there is a paucity of data regarding substance use among Asian American adolescents. Using hierachical regression, the association between intrapersonal (e.g., self-esteem) and interpersonal factors (e.g., best friend substance use) and substance use among adolescents was examined. The sample included 1584 Asian American adolescents in grades 7 to 12 that participated in Wave I of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health as a nationally representative data. For females, low GPA, high substance use by peers and close relationship with peers were related to the use of multiple substances. In males, older age, low GPA, low self-esteem, low depressive symptoms, and high substance by peers were related to the use of substances. Poor relationship with father was related to multiple substance use in both genders, but relationship with mother was not significant. We found a significant interaction between relationship with mother and substance use of friends in male adolescents, but not among female adolescents. Use of multiple substances by best friends was the strongest predictor of substance use among Asian Americans, regardless of gender. Further, the quality of relationship with father was also a substantial influence, whereas, the relationship with mother was not. The implications of these findings on the role of parents and peers in the substance uses will be discussed from a cultural perspective during the presentation.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify interpersonal and intrapersonal factors that prevent and reduce substance use behavior
• Understand how interpersonal and intrapersonal factors impact substance use behavior in Asian American adolescents
• Recognize the cultural perspectives of substance use for prevention and reduction intervention programs among Asian American adolescents

Keywords: Adolescents, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.