Adverse childhood experiences, discrimination, and substance use among Latino/a/Hispanic youth

Abstract

Underserved racial/ethnic minoritized youth disproportionately experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and discrimination, potentially leading to substance use disparities. Understanding the co-occurrence of ACEs and discrimination can identify predictors of substance use. Latino/a/Hispanic youth (N = 1,179) completed surveys from 2005-2016; ACEs and discrimination were assessed when participants were on average 21.6 and 23.9 years for substance use. Latent class analysis examined differential co-occurrence of ACEs and discrimination and regression analysis investigated their longitudinal associations with tobacco, alcohol, problematic alcohol, and marijuana use in young adulthood. A 4-class solution identified a “low adversity” (n = 378; 32.06%) group; next the “psychological abuse and discrimination” (n = 361; 30.62%); then “psychological, physical abuse and microaggressions” (n = 258; 21.88%) and “mainly microaggressions” (n = 182; 15.44%) groups. Compared to “mainly microaggressions,” the “psychological abuse and discrimination” group reported higher alcohol use (B=.316, p=.04) in young adulthood. Prevention should focus on reducing ACEs and discrimination exposure to lessen Latino/a/Hispanic youth behavioral health disparities.