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Childhood Abuse, Religious Involvement, and Substance Abuse Among Latino-American Men in the United States

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Abstract

Purpose

Childhood abuse/victimization and subsequent substance abuse are significant behavioral health problems among developed countries. In the United States (U.S.), however, few studies have examined whether this early trauma exacerbates adulthood substance abuse, viewed as a negative coping strategy, among Latino-American men. Furthermore, little is known about how collectivist cultural factors (i.e., ethnic identity, social support, and religious involvement), indicating potentially positive coping resources, were related to substance abuse in this largest minority-male population.

Method

We investigated Latino-American men (N = 1127) in a nationally representative U.S. sample, using logistic regression analysis adjusting known demographic and acculturation correlates.

Results

The results identified considerably elevated rates of childhood physical abuse/victimization (35.7 %) and lifetime substance abuse (17.3 %). Childhood physical (not sexual) abuse/victimization was positively associated with lifetime substance abuse, alongside age, being U.S.-born, and perceived discrimination. Latino-American men with lifetime substance abuse reported more religious coping.

Conclusion

Findings may contribute to the design of culturally competent behavioral care.

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Acknowledgments

Amy L. Ai, PhD, is Professor at the Departments of Psychology and Social Medicine and Behavioral Health and Colleges of Social Work and Nursing, as well as the Pepper Institute on Aging and Social Policy, Florida State University. Jungup Lee, MSW, is a PhD candidate at the College of Social Work, Florida State University. Andrea Solis and Chandler Yap are Research Assistants at the College of Human Sciences.

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  1. Florida State University, 2570 University Center Building-C, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Amy L. Ai, Jungup Lee, Andrea Solis & Chandler Yap

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  1. Amy L. Ai
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Correspondence to Amy L. Ai.

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Ai, A.L., Lee, J., Solis, A. et al. Childhood Abuse, Religious Involvement, and Substance Abuse Among Latino-American Men in the United States. Int.J. Behav. Med. 23, 764–775 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-016-9561-z

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