Association between Acculturation and Binge Drinking among Asian-Americans: Results from the California Health Interview Survey.

Monideepa B Becerra,Jim E Banta,Helen Hopp Marshak,Patti Herring

doi:10.1155/2013/248196

Abstract

Objective. Evaluate the association between acculturation and binge drinking among six Asian-American subgroups. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis of public access adult portion of 2007, 2009, and 2011/2012 California Health Interview Survey data was conducted. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were utilized with any binge drinking in the past year as the outcome variable and language spoken at home and time in USA as proxy measures of acculturation. Results. A total of 1,631 Asian-Americans (N = 665,195) were identified as binge drinkers. Binge drinking was positively associated with being first generation South Asian (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.55, 5.98) and monolingual (English only) Vietnamese (OR = 3.00; 95% CI = 1.58, 5.70), especially among females. Other factors associated with increased binge drinking were being female (Chinese only), not being current married (South Asian only), and being an ever smoker (all subgroups except South Asians). Conclusion. First generation South Asians and linguistically acculturated Vietnamese, especially females, are at an increased risk of binge drinking. Future studies and preventive measures should address the cultural basis of such health risk behaviors among Asian-American adults.

Highlights

The Asian-American racial group is comprised of those having origins or immigrated from the Far East, Southeast East, or the Indian Subcontinent, consisting of a vast range of nationalities and reflective of a heterogeneous population
This study examines the association between acculturation and binge drinking among six major Asian-American subgroups utilizing the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), a populationbased survey
Our study showed that acculturation was not a significant predictor of binge drinking behavior among several Asian-American subgroups (Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, and Koreans)

Summary

Introduction

The Asian-American racial group is comprised of those having origins or immigrated from the Far East, Southeast East, or the Indian Subcontinent, consisting of a vast range of nationalities and reflective of a heterogeneous population. Of the Asian-American subgroups with at least one million responses were Chinese, Filipino, Asian-Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese, with Asian-Indians experiencing the largest growth. Assessment of the National Health Interview Survey 2004–2006 further demonstrated that more than 75% of Japanese, Filipino, and Asian-Indian adults had incomes at or above 200% of the federal poverty level. Vietnamese, Koreans, and Chinese adults are Journal of Addiction twice as likely as Filipinos to at or below the poverty level [4], further demonstrating the heterogeneity among various Asian-American subgroups

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion