Gender, acculturation, and alcohol consumption among Mexican Americans.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the relationship between level of acculturation and drinking status among Mexican American males and females in three northern California cities.


METHODS
The data analyzed were collected through the use of a telephone survey. The sample size is 932.


RESULTS
Our results show that acculturation has a direct effect on drinking status for women in the sample but not for men. At low levels of acculturation, our results show the expected difference in drinking status by gender; with high abstention rates for women and low abstention rates for males. At high levels of acculturation there is a convergence in drinking status with females approximating the proportion of male drinkers in the sample. Additionally, acculturation was associated with "heavier" drinking for females while place of birth was associated with "heavier" drinking for males.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies of drinking patterns and related problems need to consider these factors.
Alaniz
M L
ML
Prevention Research Center, Berkeley, California 94704, USA. MARIA@PREV.ORG
Treno
A J
AJ
Saltz
R F
RF
D000069:Acculturation; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology