The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72888

Nina Mulia, DrPH, Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Ave., Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510-642-5208, nmulia@arg.org and Tammy W. Tam, PhD, Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, 2000 Hearst Avenue Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Although it has been associated with substance abuse and mental health problems in some populations, acculturation has not been widely investigated with respect to drinking patterns and problems in Asian Americans. Moreover, the ways in which acculturation gives rise to such problems remains unclear. The prevailing language-based approach to operationalizing acculturation lends itself well to predicting problems, but not necessarily to illuminating underlying processes. This qualitative study aims to provide insight into acculturation processes and how these impact health behaviors in an ethnic minority and immigrant population. Because this is an understudied area, qualitative methods are well-suited to exploring ways in which drinking may be affected by immigration and acculturation. We will present newly collected data from a pilot study of drinking and acculturation in two Asian ethnic groups, Filipino and Chinese Americans, from the San Francisco Bay Area. Using data from semi-structured interviews, we study their views and patterns of drinking in relation to experiences of immigration, acculturation, ethnicity and race. This presentation will address social and economic aspects of settling in the U.S.; Asian vs. American values and identification; and meanings and functions of drinking, and how these may change over time after arrival in the U.S. Implications for prevention will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives: Session participants (attendees) will be able to describe different theoretical models of acculturation; articulate how alcohol-related views and behaviors may change with time spent in the US; and understand ways in which acculturation may contribute to these changes.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Asian and Pacific Islander

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.