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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Dionne C. Godette, PhD, Department of Health Promotion & Behavior, University of Georgia, College of Public Health, 308 Ramsey Student Center, 300 River Road, Athens, GA 30602-6522, 919-622-3097, onwu13@hotmail.com, Erika Edwards, MPH, Data Coordinating Center, Boston University, School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, 580-2, Boston, MA 02118, Lee Strunin, PhD, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, T, Boston, MA 02118, and Timothy Heeren, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Boston University, School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Tablot E424, Boston, MA 02118.

The relationship between age, gender, nativity, years since immigration to the U.S. and alcohol outcomes has been explored among U.S. ethnic groups such as Hispanics but rarely among Blacks. The purpose of this study was to: (1) examine associations between social context and alcohol-related problems among Blacks and (2) determine whether the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems is attenuated by age, gender or years since immigration. The study sample was Black drinkers (N=5,163) in the 2001-02 National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol Related Conditions (NESARC). Cross-sectional logistic regression models explored these relationships adjusting for several demographic variables. A second set of models explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems stratified by age, gender and years since immigration adjusting for several demographic variables.

Preliminary results indicate that age, gender, nativity, and years since immigration were associated with alcohol-related problems. US-born Blacks were significantly more likely than foreign-born Blacks to experience alcohol-related problems (OR=3.07, CI 1.91-4.93). Foreign-born status remains protective for this population regardless of years since immigration. Risky/high-risk drinking was associated with alcohol-related problems; and when stratified by gender and years since immigration, risky/high-risk drinking remained a significant predictor of increased alcohol-related problems in all strata relative to those not engaged in risky/high-risk drinking. Adjusting for years since immigration and US-born status, alcohol-related problems due to risky/high-risk drinking increased relative to those not engaged in risky/high-risk drinking in young and middle adulthood. Study findings increase our understanding of relationships between social context and alcohol-related problems among young Blacks.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participants will be able to

• Describe the associations between age, gender, nativity, years since immigration, alcohol use and alcohol-related social problems among Black young adults in the US.
• Discuss the ways in which the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol-related social problems are or are not mitigated by age, gender, and years since immigration to the US within the target population.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Minority Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No