Human Services News

From EurekAlert! - Breaking News:

Immigrant groups that acculturate to mainstream America tend to have more alcohol-related problems.

A new study on drinking by Hispanics along the Texas-Mexico border shows that acculturation can have very different effects on men and women.

Previous research has shown that immigrant groups that acculturate to mainstream American culture tend to have more alcohol-related problems.

A study of Hispanic populations along the Texas-Mexico border has found that acculturation appears to have different effects on drinking by men and women.

Results are published in the February issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

"As immigrant groups acculturate to mainstream America, at least in the case of alcohol, because U.S. norms regulating alcohol use are more liberal than those of other countries, especially regarding drinking by women, as women acculturate they drink more," explained Raul Caetano, professor of epidemiology and regional dean (Dallas) at The University of Texas School of Public Health as well as the study's corresponding author.

"The border is a unique, complex and rich environment," added Hector Balcazar, regional dean of the El Paso Regional Campus, University of Texas School of Public Health, "both regarding acculturation, and the role that acculturation plays in affecting drinking behavior.

Of the 1,200 face-to-face interviews that were conducted, a total of 472 male and 484 female Hispanic adults were included in an analysis to investigate their degree of acculturation, drinking patterns, and applicability of diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse and dependence.

"It is not possible to assume that acculturation will have the same effect on drinking across gender, age or ethnic groups in the United States," he said.

"Furthermore, readers should understand that drinking is a product of personality characteristics and the environment.

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