282576
Impact of religious coping on the acculturative stress and alcohol use of recent Latino immigrants
Monday, November 4, 2013
: 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Mariana Sanchez, Ph.D.,
Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL
Frank Dillon, PhD,
Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL
Mario De La Rosa, PhD,
Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL
Background: Acculturative stress has been linked with increased alcohol use among Latino immigrants. Religion plays a prominent role in Latino culture and could be influential during difficult life transitions, such as those experienced during the immigration process. This study examines the moderating influence of religious coping on the relationship between acculturative stress and alcohol use among recent Latino immigrants. Methods: The present analyses were conducted with data from a longitudinal investigation of sociocultural determinants of health among adult recent Latino immigrants. The sample consisted of 415 adult Latinos (representing 17 Latin American countries) who immigrated to the U.S. within the last two years. Results: Structural equation model using MIMIC (Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes) modeling to include covariates was conducted to examine associations between acculturative stress, positive (adaptive) religious coping, negative (maladaptive) religious coping, and alcohol use. Higher levels of acculturative stress were associated with more positive and negative religious coping. Positive religious coping was related to lower alcohol use. Negative religious coping moderated the relationship between acculturative stress and alcohol use. Participants who used more negative religious coping had higher rates of alcohol use when experiencing high levels of acculturative stress. Conclusions: Findings indicate immigrants experiencing acculturative stress turn to religion as a means of coping with these adverse experiences. Positive and negative religious coping had distinctive relations to alcohol use. This knowledge could inform culturally tailored intervention/prevention efforts to address acculturative stress and its negative health outcomes among the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group in the US.
Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Identify religious coping mechanisms and their prominence in Latino culture
Explain how religious coping mechanisms may influence the relationship between acculturative stress and alcohol use among recent Latino immigrants
Discuss the implications that the present research findings may have towards informing relevant and culturally tailored intervention and prevention efforts with this population
Keyword(s): Alcohol Use, Religion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I currently hold a Ph.D. in the area of Social Welfare. I have published and received NIH funding for my research that has primarily focused on how religiosity influences the health behaviors of Latinos. I currently hold a postdoctoral research position at a large public research university where I conduct research on the sociocultural determinants of health disparities among Latinos.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
