Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationHispanic adolescent drug and alcohol use is a widespread problem in the United States. Hispanic adolescents have some of the highest rates of drug and alcohol use when compared with their White and African American counterparts and may be at greater risk for school failure and dropout, incarceration, and poor mental health. Acculturation has been identified as one of the most prominent variables to consider in the etiology of Hispanic adolescent drug and alcohol use. Although previous research has established a link between Hispanic adolescent acculturation and drug and alcohol use, there is much that we do not know about this relationship. This study aimed to examine the extent to which adolescent and parent acculturation profiles Hispanicism, reflecting a socialization toward the Hispanic way of life, and Americanism, reflecting a socialization toward to the Anglo-American way of life, were associated with adolescent drug and alcohol use both directly and indirectly through familism and parenting practices. Hispanic adolescents and their parents (N = 190) were included in this analysis. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test direct and indirect effects in the relationship between adolescent and parent acculturation profiles and Hispanic adolescent drug and alcohol use. This study yielded several interesting findings. First, adolescent and parent acculturation profiles were linked to adolescent alcohol use. Second, adolescent acculturation profiles, but not parents, were linked to familism. Third, familism and parenting practices were significantly positively related. Fourth, familism and parenting practices were negatively associated with adolescent alcohol use. Fifth, familism and parenting practices were shown to operate as potential mediators in the relationship between acculturation profiles and adolescent alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use. This study extends prior research by incorporating familism and parenting practices into an integrated structural model illustrating how these variables might be at play in the relationship between Hispanic adolescent acculturation and drug and alcohol use. The current study further expands upon previous literature by implementing a contextual approach in understanding how acculturation may influence drug and alcohol use through potential mediators in the relationship between acculturation and adolescent drug and alcohol involvement. Limitations, future research, and implications are discussed. i