Latino Subgroup as a Moderator of the Relationship between Language Usage and Alcohol Use in a National Sample of Latino Emerging Adults.

Emerging adulthood represents a period of increased risk for alcohol use. For Latino emerging adults, less is known regarding the role cultural variables play in alcohol use behaviors. Research in this area has primarily been conducted using Latino college student samples and/or a single Latino subgroup. This study investigates Latino subgroup as a moderator of the relationship between language usage and alcohol use variables, using a nationally-representative sample of Latino emerging adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Participants (N=2,477) identified as Mexican/ Mexican American, Cuban/ Cuban American, Puerto Rican, or Central/South American/Other Hispanic. Results of regression analyses indicated that gender, education, and language usage have a differential impact on alcohol use and binge drinking behaviors among individuals from different Latino subgroups. Implications for future research and alcohol prevention are discussed.