title: The role of intergenerational discrepancy of cultural orientation in drug use among Latina adolescents.
abstract: The role of intergenerational discrepancy for cultural orientation was examined in the etiology of drug use among Latina adolescents and in the context of family support. Intergenerational discrepancy occurs when a family member of one generation differs from a family member of another generation in cultural identity factors; this is usually manifested in conflict between a first generation child and the immigrant generation parent. It was hypothesized that the Latina adolescents experiencing intergenerational discrepancy might use drugs more frequently than Latina adolescents who were not; and that family support would be an important moderator of the relationship. A sample of 295 ninth and tenth grade Latina students (approximately 80% Mexican-American) from four Los Angeles area schools were surveyed as part of a larger study. In this secondary analysis, a 2 (family support ) x 2 (discrepancy) ANOVA revealed that intergenerational discrepancy was associated with more drug use in certain cases, and that family support did not moderate this relationship. Results partially validate and extend a theoretical model presented by Szapocznik and Kurtines (1980), and indicate a need to focus on cultural variables when intervening in drug use/misuse among Latina adolescents.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Félix-Ortiz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Newcomb
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support; D012945:Social Values; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control