Objective: To examine ethnic identity and ethnic socialization as potential protective factors for risk behaviors among US college students.
Participants: Participants were 398 African American and Afro-Caribbean students recruited from 30 colleges and universities during September 2008-October 2009.
Methods: Data on hazardous alcohol use, substance use, sexual behaviors, ethnic identity, and ethnic/racial socialization were collected. Hierarchical linear and negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to determine the degree to which ethnic identity and ethnic/racial socialization predicted the risk behaviors.
Results: Ethnic Identity affirmation, belonging, and commitment (EI-ABC) significantly predicted lower substance use and hazardous alcohol use. Ethnic/racial socialization was not a significant predictor of substance use or sexual risk behaviors.
Conclusions: Components of ethnic identity are potentially protective against alcohol and substance use behaviors. Additional research is recommended to determine effective intervention strategies.
Keywords: African American; drug use; ethnic identity; sexual risk taking.