Similarities and differences in alcohol trajectories: Testing the catch-up effect among biracial black subgroups

Citation

Goings, Trenette Clark; Hidalgo, Sebastian J. Teran; & McGovern, Tricia (2016). Similarities and differences in alcohol trajectories: Testing the catch-up effect among biracial black subgroups. Addictive Behaviors. vol. 60 pp. 13-17

Abstract

Using National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) data, we examine the alcohol-use trajectories of monoracial Black youth and biracial Black-White, Black-Hispanic, and Black-American Indian youth to assess how their trajectories differ from the alcohol-use trajectories of White youth over time. The sample consists of 9421 adolescents and young adults who self-identified as White, Black, Black-American Indian, Black-Hispanic, or Black-White. Study hypotheses are tested using latent growth curve modeling. Results indicate that a catch-up effect exists, but only for Black-American Indians whose alcohol-use rates approach the higher rates of Whites at age 29. Black-American Indians face particularly high risk of problematic drinking over the life course. Additional research is needed to understand causal factors of alcohol-use among biracial individuals particularly Black-American Indians who may be at higher risk for alcohol misuse.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.013

Keyword(s)

Mixed-race Multiracial Adolescent Adult Binge drinking Heavy episodic drinking DRUG USE

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Addictive Behaviors

Author(s)

Goings, Trenette Clark
Hidalgo, Sebastian J. Teran
McGovern, Tricia

Year Published

2016

Volume Number

60

Pages

13-17

Edition

March 26, 2016

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.013

NIHMSID

NIHMS777766

Reference ID

7860