Understanding culturally relevant risk factors for substance abuse among Asian American adolescents

In 2000, SAMHSA's National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 7.1% of Asian American adolescents between the ages 12-17 reported having used alcohol in the past month. In 2006, this percentage increased to 19.7%, representing a 75% increase among this population over six years. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to understand the relationship between a culturally relevant factor, intergenerational conflict within Asian American families, and risk for initiating and engaging in substance abuse among adolescents. Data will be collected from nearly 200 parent-child dyads formed from Chinese American students in the 6th through 8th grades and their parents at four elementary schools in Chicago's Chinatown. Analyses of questionnaire data will include multi-variate and logistic regression while controlling for demographic variables to determine if intergenerational conflict is a significant predictor for alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. Parenting style will be included in the statistical models to determine if it moderates the relationship between intergenerational conflict and risk for substance abuse through promoting parent-child bonding among families. Furthermore, data gathered from parent-child dyads will more accurately measure intergenerational conflict than from solely assessing the perceptions of either the parent or child alone. Research is limited on the factors that increase risk for substance abuse among Asian American adolescents. Therefore, this study will enhance knowledge of risk factors that are also culturally specific to this racial/ethnic minority and immigrant group. Findings will help to develop tailored interventions to prevent substance abuse among Asian American adolescents in the future.