Ethnic identity and risky health behaviors in school-age Mexican-American children.

Full Abstract

The study examined the relationship between ethnic identity and risky health behaviors in 1,892 Mexican-American students (M age= 14.6, SD= 1.35; 50.3% male) in South Texas. The Ethnic Identity Scale assessed ethnic identity and questions from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey measured risky health behaviors (mixed use of alcohol and drugs, heavy drinking, driving under the influence, regular marijuana use, regular cigarette smoking, lack of regular exercise, not eating breakfast regularly, and carrying a gun or knife to school). Logistic regression tested the relationships between ethnic identity and report of risky health behaviors controlling for potential confounders (sex, free school lunch status, grade, and self-reported school grade). Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and confidence intervals were calculated. Results indicated that being associated with Mexican-American cultural identity was significantly associated with a decreased mixed use of alcohol and drugs (AOR= .97), heavy drinking (AOR= .98), and regular marijuana use (AOR= .97). A stronger ethnic identity was protective against engaging in risky health behaviors among these Mexican-American adolescents.

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Author information

Author/s: Love, Ashley S (AS); Yin, Zenong (Z); Codina, Edward (E); Zapata, Jesse T (JT);

Affiliation: College of Education and Human Development, Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas San Antonio 78249, USA. ashley.love(-atsign-)utsa.edu

Grants: R24 DA07234 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Psychological reports (Psychol Rep), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 98 (issue 3) : pp 735-44

Dates: Created 2006/08/28; Completed 2006/09/26; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 16933671, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acculturation
Adolescent
Attitude - ethnology
Child
Ethnic Groups
Female
Health Behavior

Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Mexican Americans - psychology; statistics & numerical data
Questionnaires
Risk-Taking
Social Identification

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