A Structural Model of Alcohol Use Pathways among Latino Youth

Objectives: To determine the pathways to alcohol use among Latino adolescents with a structural equation modeling (SEM) based on developmental theories and an ecological perspective. The second purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between acculturation and alcohol use related protective and risk factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of risk and protective factors among a sample of 322 Latino youth (aged 11 – 13) was conducted. The survey questionnaire contained items that were related to individual, family, and school protective factors and alcohol use. The latent variables in our hypothesized model, parental monitoring, family connectedness and academic encourage and support were independent variables, whereas School connectedness, self-concept, peer norm, and alcohol use served as the dependent variables.

Results: The model fit indices met the acceptable standard for SEM (CFI=0.93, NNFI=0.91, RMSEA =0.06 and chi-square/degree of freedom ratio was 2.21). The following significant pathways were found (p< 0.05): Peer norms and school connectedness had direct pathway to alcohol use. Self concept was related to peer norms. Youth who were less acculturated were more likely to believe that their peers drank. Family monitoring, connectedness and academic support did not have direct pathways to alcohol use. Finally, Acculturation was related to peer norms.

Implication: These findings highlight the need for a continued focus on family-based interventions to reduce adolescent alcohol use and abuse. In addition, it is vitally important to facilitate programs that enhance the development of social and academic competence and effective coping skills.