A structural model of alcohol use pathways among Latino youth.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the pathways to alcohol use among adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of risk and protective factors among a sample of Latino youth (aged 11-13) was conducted.


RESULTS
Peer norms and school connectedness had direct pathways to alcohol use. Self-concept was related to peer norms. Youth who were less acculturated were more likely to believe that their peers drank. Family monitoring, connectedness, and academic support did not have direct pathways to alcohol use.


CONCLUSIONS
Peer norms appear critical in shaping adolescent involvement with alcohol. The protective influence of family and academic support appear to be indirect.
Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. dralicey@umd.edu
Fang Alice
FA
Yan
Kenneth H
KH
Beck
Donna
D
Howard
Teresa Downs
TD
Shattuck
Melissa Hallmark
MH
Kerr
D000069:Acculturation; D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003469:Culture; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012925:Social Conformity; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support