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323569
Acculturation and Excessive Alcohol Consumption among Mexican American Current Drinkers- Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2012


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

YiLin Xu, MPH, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Louisiana State University-School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Claudia Leonardi, Ph.D., Biostatistics Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Neal Simonsen, PhD, MS, Consultant, New Orleans, LA
Tung-Sung Tseng, DrPH., M.S., School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
Qingzhao Yu, PhD, Biostatistic, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Lu Zhang, MPH, Department of Epidemiology, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Richard Scribner, MD, MPH, Epidemiology, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, LA
Introduction

The influence of acculturation on alcohol use among Mexican Americans in the U.S. remain unresolved. Research is needed to identify the unique effects of acculturation on consumption patterns and problems among drinkers. Using a sample derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study aimed to assess the relationship between acculturation and excessive alcohol consumption among Mexican American current drinkers.

Methods

The study included 2268 Mexican American non-pregnant current drinkers aged ≥20 years from the NHANES 2001-2012. An acculturation score ranging from 0-5 was constructed using measures of language use, country of birth and length of residence in the U.S. Excessive drinking was defined as an average of ≥14 drinks per week for men or ≥7 drinks per week for women, or ≥5 drinks in a single day once or more in the past year. Covariates included age (20-40 or 40+), gender, income (Poverty Income Ratio (PIR) <1, 1≤PIR≤3 or PIR>3), and educational (≤high school or >high school), marital (married or unmarried) and insurance (public, private or none) status. Analyses were conducted using the surveyfreq and surveylogistic procedures of SAS 9.3 incorporating the complex sampling design of NHANES.

Results

The unadjusted prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption differed significantly between acculturation levels in Mexican American current drinkers (p<.05). After accounting for sociodemographic factors, a higher degree of acculturation (score 3-5) was associated with excessive alcohol consumption [OR 1.4, 95% CI (1.2-1.6)]. The effect of acculturation was more pronounced in female current drinkers [3.2 (2.1-4.7)] as compared to male drinkers [1.3 (1.0-1.7)].

Conclusion

Increased U.S. acculturation was associated with excessive alcohol consumption among Mexican Americans. While its effect was evidenced in both male and female current drinkers, the association was stronger for female drinkers.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the relationship of acculturation and excessive alcohol consumption among Mexican American current drinkers

Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, Minority Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD candidate from LSU School of Public Health. I am interested the effect of acculturation and immigration on behavioral and disease outcomes in minority population in the US.
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.

Back to: 4177.0: Recent and innovative work in alcohol studies