Citation
Tam, C.C.; Li, L.; Cook, W.K.; Lui, C.K.; & Patterson, D. (2021). Lifecourse heavy drinking trajectories using time-varying effect modeling: Comparing Asian Americans to other racial/ethnic groups using a U.S. national sample. American Public Health Association 2021 Annual Meeting. Denver, CO.Abstract
Background: Some evidence suggests the timing of heavy alcohol use for Asian Americans may differ from their non-Asian counterparts, but this has not been investigated in a national sample. Because of the long-term consequences of sustained heavy alcohol use, and with a disproportionate burden of health and social harms experienced by non-White populations, we compared Asian American lifecourse trajectories of heavy episodic drinking (HED) to Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics to pinpoint specific ages to reduce heavy drinking.Method: We used the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, Waves 1-5. Because traditional trajectory analysis is based on parametric curves (linear, quadratic) with fixed variation, we applied time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) to estimate peaks and dips of heavy drinking from ages 12-41. The outcome is past-year HED days (5+ alcoholic drinks on an occasion; sex-specific 5+/4+ in Waves 4-5). Analyses were stratified by sex and race (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian American) (N=19,336).
Results: Preliminary findings showed Asian and Black males have markedly steep inclines in adolescence and declined steeply thereafter while White and Hispanic males steadily declined through emerging adulthood. For Asian males, HED days peaked again in the late 20s when other groups declined (Blacks) or flattened (Whites and Hispanics). Female HED increases were most pronounced in adolescence: HED among Asian and Black females peaked at age 17 while declined among Whites. Asian females steadily increased their HED days by age 21 while other groups decreased or remained steady.
Conclusions: Asian American heavy drinking periods are distinct from Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. Prevention efforts are critical at specific ages; these findings have implications for exploring socioecological factors associated with sustained heavy alcohol use relevant to the Asian American experience. Doing so will provide a knowledge base for a racial group that is typically overlooked in research and programming efforts.
URL
https://apha.confex.com/apha/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/508938Reference Type
Conference proceedingBook Title
American Public Health Association 2021 Annual MeetingAuthor(s)
Tam, C.C.Li, L.
Cook, W.K.
Lui, C.K.
Patterson, D.