Acculturation, hazardous drinking and depressive symptomatology among Hispanics enrolled in a clinical trial. (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Christina S.; Almeida, Joanna; Colby, Suzanne M.; Tavares, Tonya; Rohsenow, Damaris J.
• Is Part Of: Addiction research & theory. Volume 24:Number 1(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: 69
• Page End: 79
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Acculturation -- depressive symptoms -- gender -- hazardous drinking -- hispanic; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Compulsive behavior -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.3109/16066359.2015.1072517
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1606-6359

Abstract

Abstract: Background : Among Hispanics in USA, lower acculturation level has been found to be protective against alcohol abuse and depression. However, this relationship may not hold within at-risk samples. The prevalence and co-occurrence of hazardous drinking and depressive symptoms and their relationship to acculturation were examined among Hispanics enrolled in a study to reduce heavy drinking. At enrolment, all the participants reported past-month heavy drinking (one or more occasions of >4/5 drinks for females/males, and average weekly consumption >7/14 drinks per week). We explored whether gender moderated the effects of acculturation on hazardous drinking and depressive symptoms. Methods : Participants ( N = 100) completed measures at baseline. Results : Eighty-nine percent of participants met criteria for hazardous alcohol use as assessed by the AUDIT and of those, 55% ( n = 49) also reported elevated depressive symptoms. Of those who reported elevated depressive symptoms, nearly all (94%) met AUDIT criteria for hazardous drinking. Acculturation was not related to hazardous drinking or depressive symptoms in the full sample. Highly acculturated women reported more hazardous drinking than less acculturated women. Acculturation was not associated with hazardous drinking in men, but less acculturated men reported higher levels of depression than highly acculturated men. Discussion : Depression should be assessed in alcohol interventions for Hispanics. Alcohol interventions should be tailored for acculturation level and gender to improve relevance and efficacy. Clinical Trial Registration #NCT01996280.