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

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.