Perceived discrimination and binge alcohol use among African Americans in the transition to early adulthood

Background: Although perceived discrimination has been associated with increased substance use in cross-sectional studies, the dynamic relationship between such experiences and the development of binge drinking among African American youth has not been explored.

Methods: National data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics – Transition to Adulthood Study were analyzed. Youth participated in up to four interviews (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011; n=630) between ages 18-25.  At each wave, respondents reported past year number of days they drank four/five or more drinks on one occasion (coded as 0 / 1-11 / 12+), and frequency with which they experienced seven different types of discrimination in the past year (summed and standardized).  Ordinal latent growth curve models were run in MPlus, with perceived discrimination as a time-varying predictor of binge alcohol use frequency. Time-invariant controls for familial wealth, parental alcohol use, and birth cohort, as well as a time-varying control for current college attendance, were also included. 

Results: Binge alcohol use evidenced a significant linear increase with age.  Family-of-origin wealth and parental alcohol use frequency were both associated with steeper increases in binge alcohol use with age.  Discrimination experiences were significantly positively related to binge alcohol use frequency, but only at ages 19, 22 and 25 (AOR range 2.37- 8.08). Interactions between college attendance status and discrimination were non-significant.

Conclusions: Perceived discrimination appears to contribute to increased risk of binge alcohol use among African American youth.  Further investigation is warranted that explores why discrimination experiences may be most relevant at particular ages.