Acculturation, substance use, and deviant behavior: examining separation and family conflict as mediators.
This longitudinal study examined how separation and family conflict mediated the effects of two acculturation variables (English language use and generational status) on substance use (alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use) and deviant behavior outcomes in a Mexican American high school age sample. Structural equation modeling indicated that separation was a significant mediator of the relationship between acculturation and alcohol use, tobacco use, and deviant behavior. Family conflict mediated the effects of acculturation on marijuana use and deviant behavior. Model comparisons across gender groups suggested that generational status was an influential acculturation measure for females but not males. Additionally, English language use maintained a direct effect on marijuana use among females, whereas this relationship was mediated by separation for males.
McQueen
Amy
A
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77098, USA.
Getz
J Greg
JG
Bray
James H
JH
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007207:Individuation; D007802:Language; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas