180107 Acculturation and marijuana use: Structural influence of friendship networks on Mexican American youth

Monday, October 27, 2008: 9:24 AM

Craig M. Martinez, MPH , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Kathleen M. Roche, MSW, PhD , Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Background: Although higher levels of acculturation are associated with marijuana use among Mexican American youth, little is known about mechanisms linking acculturation to marijuana use. Drawing from peer influence research, the present study explores the mediating role of friendship networks in the association between acculturation and marijuana use among Mexican American youth. Methods: Data for this study derive from the first two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The sample selected includes 826 9th-11th graders who completed in-school questionnaires and in-home interviews. The dependent variable is past-30 day marijuana use at Wave 2 and the main independent variables include language spoken, sociodemographic attributes of friends and structural traits of friendship networks. Lagged regression analyses were used to predict marijuana use at Wave 2 adjusting for a clustered sampling design. Results: Bivariate findings indicate that Spanish-speaking, preferences for Hispanic friends and less alcohol using friendship networks are inversely associated with marijuana use. Spanish-speaking is associated with more racially homogenous and less alcohol using friendship networks. Multivariate negative binomial regression indicates that more racially homogenous and less alcohol using friendship networks are inversely associated with marijuana use. Spanish-speaking is no longer associated with marijuana use after including friendship variables. Asymmetric confidence interval tests will be used next to examine how friendship networks mediate associations between Spanish-speaking and marijuana use. Conclusions: Characteristics of friendship networks may mediate associations between acculturation and marijuana use and should be incorporated into prevention programs targeting Mexican American youth in order to enhance program efficacy.

Learning Objectives:
1. Articulate how friendship networks structure associations between measures of acculturation and marijuana use among Mexican American youth. 2. Identify characteristics of friendship networks that influence marijuana use among Mexican American youth. 3. Discuss how characteristics of friendship networks can be used in substance use prevention programming for Mexican American youth.

Keywords: Hispanic Youth, Marijuana

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I do not have a financial relationship with a commerical interest occuring within the past 12 months and have no commercial interests in products or services affecting the content of continuing education.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.