Social stressors and alcohol use among immigrant sexual and gender minority Latinos in a nontraditional settlement state

Subst Use Misuse. 2014 Sep;49(11):1365-75. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2014.901389. Epub 2014 Apr 7.

Abstract

We sought to quantify the association of social stressors with alcohol use among immigrant sexual and gender minority Latinos in North Carolina (n = 190). We modeled any drinking in past year using logistic regression and heavy episodic drinking in past 30 days using Poisson regression. Despite a large proportion of abstainers, there were indications of hazardous drinking. Among current drinkers, 63% reported at least one heavy drinking episode in past 30 days. Ethnic discrimination increased, and social support decreased, odds of any drinking in past year. Social support moderated the associations of English use and ethnic discrimination with heavy episodic drinking.

Keywords: Hispanic; binges; drinking; gay; men who have sex with men (MSM); southeast US; transgender.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Binge Drinking / psychology*
  • Emigrants and Immigrants
  • Hispanic or Latino / psychology*
  • Homophobia / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minority Groups / psychology*
  • North Carolina
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Social Stigma*
  • Social Support
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Young Adult