title: Alcohol consumption and psychological distress among U.S. Anglos, Hispanics and Blacks.
abstract: Data from the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Augmentation Component of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics were analysed to assess differences between Anglos (N=5546), Blacks (N=872), less-acculturated Hispanics (N=182), and more-acculturated Hispanics (N=58) with regard to alcohol use, psychological distress, and alcohol consumption-psychological distress relationships. Alcohol consumption differences were more notable for quantity rather than frequency, with Hispanics reporting significantly higher quantity than Anglos or Blacks. Drinkers were more depressed than non-drinkers among Anglos and Blacks; an opposite, though insignificant, pattern emerged among Hispanics. Higher quantity of alcohol use was generally associated with greater depressive symptomatology and lower well-being. More frequent drinking was generally associated with lower depressive symptoms and higher well-being. Additional findings that pointed to negative relationships between quantity and both reported nervous breakdowns and help-seeking for emotional problems among less-acculturated Hispanics suggest a greater use of alcohol as a coping mechanism in this group.
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D044465:White People