Racial discrimination, binge drinking, and negative drinking consequences among black college students: serial mediation by depressive symptoms and coping motives

Social and Psychological Mediators of Sexual and Physical Male-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence Against Young African American Women: The Role of Alcohol Use and Drinking Context

Problem alcohol use is prevalent among women who experience male-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the pathways by which this occurs remain poorly understood and understudied among African American women. This study sought to examine context-specific social and psychological mediators of this association. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we tested a conceptual framework predicting problem alcohol use within 3 months of experiencing physical and/or sexual IPV. The sample included 508 young African American women (median age 21, interquartile range 19-22 years). A modified SEM met prespecified global and local fit index criteria. The model identified four indirect paths from IPV to problem alcohol use. Three of the paths were through the endorsement of drinking contexts: negative coping, social drinking, and intimate drinking. Negative coping and social drinking emerged as the most salient pathways (β = .431, 95% CI [0.107, 0.754]; β = .472 [0.103, 0.841], respectively). A fourth path operated via depressive symptomatology and negative coping. The model predictors explained 35% of the variance in problem alcohol use; findings were consistent with full mediation of IPV and problem drinking. These findings increase the understanding of problem alcohol use among African American women who experience IPV and identify modifiable context-specific risk factors for problem alcohol use. Interventions to reduce problem drinking could incorporate trauma-informed counseling, as part of integrated IPV and substance use care, to reduce depressive symptomatology and enhance drinking refusal skills in response to situational drinking.

Gendered racial microaggressions and Asian American women's hazardous alcohol use: The role of drinking to cope

Research indicates the importance of investigating psychosocial factors that contribute to Asian American women's hazardous alcohol use. Thus, the present study examines how gendered racial microaggressions and racial collective self-esteem are associated with hazardous alcohol use among Asian American women, as well as the potential indirect effect of drinking to cope. A final sample of 300 Asian American women filled out a cross-sectional survey consisting of our study variables. Regression analyses indicated that gendered racial microaggressions was positively associated with hazardous alcohol use, whereas racial collective self-esteem was not associated. Drinking to cope indirectly explained the association between gendered racial microaggressions and alcohol use. Our result suggests that clinicians might consider helping their Asian American female clients practice alternative coping strategies aside from drinking to cope to alleviate their hazardous alcohol use. Practitioners are also encouraged to be aware of their clients' multiple identities and experiences of gendered racial microaggressions while providing treatment. To expand upon our findings, researchers are encouraged to investigate how these associations may manifest within specific ethnic subgroups, as well as by utilizing longitudinal research designs to study Asian American women's hazardous alcohol use.

Prospective Associations of Exposure to Discrimination and Alcohol Use: A National Longitudinal Study

INTRODUCTION

This study examined prospective associations of perceived discrimination experience and past-week alcohol use among U.S. adults.

METHODS

This longitudinal study analyzed 22 biweekly surveys from the Understanding America Study during June 2020-July 2021, a nationally representative U.S. adult panel. Multivariable regressions were conducted to examine prospective associations of perceived discrimination experiences (any versus none) or mean levels of discrimination (never [0] to almost every day [4]) and past-week alcohol use frequency [days: 0-7]) or binge drinking (yes/no) 2 weeks later, after disaggregating within-person and between-person effects of discrimination regressor and adjusting for covariates. Analyses were conducted in 2024.

RESULTS

Among 8,026 participants, 18.9% reported perceived discrimination experiences. The mean of past-week alcohol drinking was 1.27 days and 9.3% reported past-week binge drinking. Within-person discrimination prevalence and levels of discrimination were associated with higher drinking frequency (IRR [95% CI]=1.05 [1.02,1.08], p=0.0003 and IRR [95% CI]=1.06 [1.02, 1.10], p=0.002, respectively), and between-person discrimination prevalence was associated with higher drinking frequency (IRR [95% CI]=1.16 [1.05, 1.30], p=0.005) and higher likelihood of binge drinking (AOR [95% CI]=1.90 [1.49, 2.42], p<0.0001). The associations of discrimination prevalence and drinking frequency differed by sex (interaction effect, p=0.02) and race/ethnicity (interaction effect of Whites versus Blacks, p=0.006), with significantly higher numbers of past-week drinking among females (AOR [95% CI]=1.10 [1.05, 1.15] and Black adults (AOR [95% CI]=1.17 [1.07, 1.28]) but not among males and Hispanic/other race adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Discrimination experiences were prospectively associated with an increased risk of alcohol-drinking outcomes, and the effect was more pronounced among certain demographic groups. Efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of recurrent exposure to discrimination are critical to advance health equity.

Binge drinking in American Indian Alaskan Native college attending students

OBJECTIVES

American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) populations have the highest rate of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Binge drinking is a known predecessor of AUD and is prevalent in college-attending populations. However, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors related to AIAN college student binge drinking. The current study examines prevalence of binge drinking and association with socio-demographic features, other substance use, exposure to discrimination and feelings of belonging within collegiate institutions.

DESIGN

Data were collected by the Healthy Minds Study. Present analyses were restricted to 2- and 4-year college attending students in the 2021-2022 academic year who identified as AIAN (n = 1383). We used descriptive, bivariate and multivariate Poisson weighted models to evaluate distributions and associations of binge drinking, age, gender, socioeconomic status, degree program, military experience, substance use, sexual assault, discrimination, and feelings of belonging within the institution.

RESULTS

In the prior 2 weeks, 26.3% of AIAN students reported binge drinking. Binge drinking commonly overlapped with other substance use. AIAN students aged 21-34 reported the highest rates of binge drinking, as did students pursuing bachelor's degrees. AIAN students who identified as trans or queer gender were less likely to report binge drinking, while across gender identities those reporting sexual assault or racial discrimination were more likely to report binge drinking in multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

There are multiple factors associated with binge drinking, representing individual and contextual influences on AIAN students. Developing prevention and intervention activities to address overlap in substance use and high concurrence of sexual assault and binge drinking are critical. Additionally, colleges must make concerted efforts to reduce racial discrimination and be more inclusive of AIAN students to reduce institutional-based features that exacerbate risk.

Depressive symptoms, racism, and school belonging: examining correlates of substance use behaviors among Black college students

College is a context in which Black adults are at heightened risk for substance use behaviors and subsequently more harmful consequences. Increasingly, scholars are recognizing that to better understand shifts in patterns of substance use behaviors and health disparities among Black adults, mental health and racism are important factors to consider. Racism is multidimensional; thus, research is needed to investigate its multiple forms. Currently, it is unknown how the occurrence of depressive symptoms and various racism experiences influence patterns of substance use behaviors among Black college students. Further, while school belonging is evidenced to promote better health outcomes during adolescence, research is needed to understand school belonging in relation to substance use among Black college students. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), we identify patterns of substance use behaviors among Black college students (N = 152) and examine whether depressive symptoms, racism experiences (i.e., racial discrimination stress, internalized racism, negative police encounters), and school belonging are associated with the unique patterns. Latent profiles included indicators of substance use behavior frequency. Four patterns emerged: 1) low substance use, 2) predominant alcohol use, 3) co-use, 4) high polysubstance use. Depressive symptoms, internalized racism, and negative police encounters were significant correlates of patterns of substance use behaviors. School belonging, specifically, participation in student, cultural, spiritual, and Greek organizations, was also associated with profile membership. Findings suggest a need to integrate a broader understanding of how mental health and racism impacts the lives of Black college students, in addition to processes for supporting school belonging.

Racism-related experiences and substance use: A systematic and meta-analytic review

Examinations highlighting interpersonal racism-related experiences as risk factors for substance use are well documented, particularly for alcohol use. The associations between racism-related experiences across other levels of influence (e.g., historical trauma, online, internalized) and use of other types of substances, while emerging, have yielded mixed findings. The present systematic review and meta-analyses examined the associations between multilevel racism-related experiences and different types of substances including substance use overall, alcohol, binge drinking, tobacco/nicotine, cannabis, illicit drugs, and polysubstance use among ethnoracially minoritized adolescents and emerging adults (12-29 years old). A systematic literature search and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used to identify, assess quality, and bias of included articles. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled effect sizes for seven substance use outcomes and by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Out of a total of 3190 articles, 91 (N = 190,065 participants) met inclusion criteria, 79 of which were included in the meta-analysis. The studies included were predominantly cross-sectional, school-based samples, and focused on Black individuals. Most examined interpersonal racism and few examined online and historical forms of racism. Meta-analyses demonstrated a significant positive association, with a small pooled effect size, between racism-related experiences and each substance use outcome. Moderations by age, sex, and race/ethnicity were found. Racism-related experiences are a risk factor for substance use among ethnoracially minoritized adolescents and emerging adults. Interventions addressing racism-related experiences across multiple dimensions are critical for the prevention and treatment of substance use among ethnoracially minoritized communities.

Childhood Violence, High School Academic Environment, and Adult Alcohol Use Among Latinas and Black Women: A Structural Equation Modeling Study

OBJECTIVE

Young Latinas and Black women drink less than women of other racial/ethnic groups but experience more alcohol-related problems in midlife. This study aims to identify modifiable factors to prevent adult onset of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in this population.

METHODS

Data were collected at six time points as part of the Harlem Longitudinal Development Study from 365 Latinas (47%) and Black (53%) women (mean age at time 1 = 14, standard deviation 1.3). Structural equation modeling was used to test hypothesized pathways from childhood physical and sexual abuse to AUD via depressive mood, anxiety disorders, and somatic complaints in the 20s. We also tested the moderation effect of the high school academic environment by including in the structural equation model two latent variable interaction terms between the school environment and each of the abuse variables.

RESULTS

Childhood physical and sexual abuse was positively associated with depressive mood, anxiety disorders, and somatic complaints when participants were in the 20s. Depressive mood mediated childhood abuse and AUD when women were in the 30s. The high school academic environment attenuated the effect of physical, but not sexual abuse, on depressive mood (β = -0.59, B = -9.38, 95% CI [-14.00, -4.76]), anxiety symptoms (β = -0.61, B = -14.19, 95% CI [-21.76, -6.61]), appetite loss (β = -0.41, B = -10.52, 95% CI [-15.61, -5.42]), and sleeplessness (β = -0.50, B = -9.56, 95% CI [-13.95, -5.17]) in the early 20s.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings underscore the need to invest in early violence prevention interventions and in education to ensure equitable access to quality, academically oriented, and safe schools.

Risk and protective factors for heavy episodic drinking among college students: Influence of mental health service use

Objective: This study was designed to assess the relationship between mental health service utilization and heavy episodic drinking (HED) after controlling for demographic and student-level variables. Participants: A national sample of college undergraduate respondents to the 2017-2018 Healthy Minds Study survey (n = 67,427). Methods: Hierarchical logistic regression entering all variables on a single step. Subsequent logistic regression was used to assess interactions between mental health service variables and select demographic and student level variables. Results: Twenty-two demographic and student-level variables were associated with current HED (9 protective and 11 risk factors). Current mental health therapy was associated with a lower risk of current HED while mental health medication use in the past 12 months (but not currently) was associated with a higher risk of HED. Conclusions: Findings provide guidance to college/university community professionals given the responsibility of designing and implementing programs for mitigation of alcohol misuse on their campus.

Substance Use Among African American College Students: Testing the Theory of African American Offending

BACKGROUND

 General criminological theories contend that African Americans' substance use is due to overexposure to criminological risk factors. However, some scholars suggest that racial injustices (i.e., racial discrimination and criminal justice injustices) and racial socialization practices, which includes religiosity (church involvement), impact African American substance use.

OBJECTIVE

 Drawing on Unnever and Gabbidon's theory of African American offending, which considers racial injustices and racial socialization when explaining African American offending, the current research examined African American college students' substance use behavior.

METHODS

 African American college students (n = 131) completed an online and anonymous survey measuring substance use, criminal justice injustices, racial discrimination, racial socialization, religiosity, negative emotions, and school bonds.

RESULTS

 African American college students who reported marijuana use had less confidence in the police and those who engaged in heavy/binge drinking reported more negative emotions and negative encounters with the police. Additionally, negative police encounters and racial socialization practices increased the odds of heavy/binge drinking, whereas religiosity decreased the odds of heavy/binge drinking.

CONCLUSION

 These results suggest that a relationship exists among criminal justice injustices, perceived racial bias, racial socialization, religiosity, and African American college students' substance use. As such, the current research provides partial support for the Theory of African American Offending while demonstrating the need to consider racial experiences when examining African American substance use.

Psychological distress and alcohol use disorder in college students of color: Social support's moderating properties

Alcohol use is prevalent among college students. Research has found that psychological distress in the form of depression, anxiety, or loneliness has been consistently associated with greater alcohol use. Because Students of Color (SoC) disproportionately experience greater psychological distress than White students, it is critical to determine buffers against psychological distress and subsequent alcohol use consequences. Previous literature found that social support can protect against the effects of psychological distress and weaken its link with alcohol use. This study aimed to determine the moderating effect of social support in the relation between psychological distress and alcohol use among SoC. College Students of Color from across the U.S. (n = 211, Mage = 27.51, SD = 9.63) were recruited via Prolific to answer an online survey through Qualtrics. Linear regression analyses showed that psychological distress variables (i.e., depression, anxiety, and loneliness) were positively associated with alcohol use. However, moderation analysis did not find any form of social support to moderate the relation between psychological distress variables and alcohol use. Future research needs to identify other protective factors against alcohol use to support SoC in their academic journey.

Race/Ethnicity and Contexts: Associations of Racial/Ethnic Discrimination with Underage Youth's Alcohol Use and Drinking Contexts

Background

This study examined how racial/ethnic discrimination may shape alcohol use behaviors, related problems, and contexts of alcohol use among underage youth (<21 years old). Age group differences were also explored.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were obtained from California youth identified as racial and ethnic minoritized youth (n=605; ages 14-20). An adapted version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale was used to assess racial/ethnic discrimination. Demographics were also assessed. Outcomes included drinking status, past-6-month alcohol frequency and quantity, number of types of alcohol-related problems, risk for alcohol addiction, and past-6-month alcohol frequency and quantity in public and private settings. Multinomial, negative binomial, and linear regression analyses were conducted, controlling for demographics and exposure to context settings.

Results

Experiencing racial/ethnic discrimination was positively associated with lifetime drinking, any past-6-month drinking, and risk for alcohol addiction. It was also positively associated with the past-6-month typical number of drinks participants consumed in public settings. Age-group differences were observed with some greater risks for older underage youth (18-20 years old).

Conclusions

Findings suggest the importance of trauma-informed interventions for youth of diverse racial/ethnic groups and for addressing racial/ethnic discrimination in schools or communities to address alcohol use inequities in young people.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Alcohol Use among Black College Students: Examining the Mediating Roles of Depression and Coping Drinking Motives

Background: Over the past two decades, research has linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to adult health-risk behaviors such as excessive alcohol use. Yet, few have investigated health-risk behaviors among Black college students. Research suggests that Black college students are at lower risk for hazardous drinking patterns, yet ACEs appear to alter the drinking patterns of Black students. Other studies have also shown depressive symptoms and coping-motivated drinking to predict greater alcohol consumption for this ethnic group. Objective: The current study investigated the relationship between ACEs and hazardous patterns of drinking, including frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, using a sample of 282 Black students attending a historically black college/university (HBCU). Results: Depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives were tested as serial mediators between ACEs and the three drinking patterns. Results revealed a significant indirect effect of ACEs on the frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, through depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives. Depressive symptoms also independently mediated the relationship between ACEs and heavy drinking episodes. Conclusion: The finding suggested that drinking perhaps serves as a maladaptive coping strategy to address underlying early life stress and depression for Black students.

Gendered racial microaggressions and emerging adult Black women's social and general anxiety: Distress intolerance and stress as mediators

There is robust evidence that gendered racial microaggressions affect Black women's mental health. However, few studies have examined how this form of discrimination affects Black women's social anxiety in addition to their general anxiety, as well as the underlying mechanisms related to gendered racial microaggressions and anxiety.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions stress (GRMS) and gendered racial microaggressions frequency (GRMF), and Black women's social anxiety and general anxiety symptoms. We also examined the mediating roles of distress intolerance and stress in these associations.

METHOD

One hundred and sixty-three Black women, between the ages of 18 and 25 years old, completed a cross-sectional survey. Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between gendered racial microaggressions and social anxiety and general anxiety, and mediation analyses examined the indirect effect of gendered racial microaggressions on the outcome variables through distress intolerance and stress.

RESULTS

GRMS was associated with greater social and general anxiety through the mechanisms of distress intolerance and stress. GRMF was associated with reduced social anxiety and was not associated with general anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention efforts should be aimed to prevent the experience of gendered racial microaggressions to prevent subsequent stress and mental health outcomes for Black women.

Online racism, depressive and anxiety symptoms, coping-related drinking motives, and alcohol use severity among Black, Latina/o/x, and Asian emerging adults

Online racism has been associated with alcohol-related coping, likely to deal with mental health symptoms that arise from experiencing racial discrimination in online settings. Thus, we examined online racism as a risk factor for alcohol-related problems by examining depressive/anxiety symptoms and coping-related drinking motives as mediators among Black, Latina/o/x, and Asian emerging adults in the U.S. We hypothesized that online racism would be associated with greater alcohol use severity through depressive/anxiety symptoms and coping-related drinking motives sequentially. With data from 322 participants (Mage = 23.28; Black, n = 108; Latina/o/x, n = 118; and Asian, n = 96), we conducted a multi-group path analysis of online racism (Perceived Online Racism Scale) linked to alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) via depressive (Patient Health Questionnaire-9)/Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) symptoms and coping-related drinking motives (Drinking Motives Questionnaire-Revised Short Form). The hypothesized indirect pathway was significant in all groups. The direct effect was also significant for Latina/o/x and Asian groups. For the Black group, the direct effect was not significant, highlighting the salience of the mental health symptoms and drinking motives in explaining the link between online racism and alcohol use. Collectively, the results help to contextualize the risks of alcohol-related problems from experiencing contemporary forms of racial trauma such as online racial discrimination and provide implications for intervention development.

Examining the promotive versus the protective impact of culturally informed shift-&-persist coping in the context of discrimination, anxiety, and health behaviors

This study aims to better understand how racially/ethnically minoritized youth exhibit adaptive psychological functioning (less anxiety) and health behaviors (better sleep and less binge drinking) in the context of discrimination, ethnic-racial identity and coping. Among 364 minoritized emerging adults (Mage  = 18.79, 85.2% female), we utilized higher-order factor analysis to examine how culturally informed shift-&-persist (S&P), a higher-order construct explaining associations between coping factors (shift, persist, spiritually based coping, civic engagement), and ethnic-racial identity were related to anxiety, binge drinking, and sleep in the context of discrimination. Culturally informed S&P promoted better sleep and less anxiety controlling for discrimination. No significant effects were observed for binge drinking and no moderated effects were observed across outcomes. The harmful effect of discrimination on sleep was intensified for those with stronger ethnic-racial identities. The promotive and potentially protective effects of culturally informed S&P coping differs across mental health and health behavior outcomes.

Latent class analysis of racial microaggressions and institution-specific racial discrimination at a U.S. minority-serving university: Implications for mental health and coping

Research has demonstrated that ethnoracially minoritized college students face negative mental health outcomes associated with racism. However, little is known about the intersections between microaggressions and institution-specific racial discrimination, their relationship with psychological distress, and the role of coping in this relationship. An ethnoracially diverse sample of 915 young adults attending an urban minority-serving institution (MSI) completed self-report measures on sociodemographics, microaggressions and institution-specific racial discrimination, coping, anxiety and depression, and perceived stress. Latent class analysis (LCA) determined the number and nature of classes for both forms of racism. Hierarchical linear regressions assessed the association between the LCA classes and anxiety/depression and examined the moderating role of coping in said association. The LCA revealed two classes: "exoticization and environmental microaggressions" (EM), whose members reported experiencing these two types of microaggressions, and "institution-specific racial discrimination and microaggressions" (IRM), whose members reported both institution-specific racial discrimination and microaggressions in multiple domains. Belonging to the IRM group was associated with depression but not anxiety after adjusting for perceived stress. Black students and those reporting lower family income were more likely to belong to the IRM group. Coping moderated the relation between IRM group membership and depression, which was weaker for those who reported active coping in response to racism. College students from MSIs who experience both institution-specific racial discrimination and microaggressions may be at greater risk for depression than those who experience exoticization and environmental microaggressions alone. Active coping may ameliorate depression risk. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Racial/ethnic discrimination, ADH1B*3, and coping-motivated drinking among Black college students

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Discrimination due to race and/or ethnicity can be a pervasive stressor for Black college students in the United States beyond general negative life events and has demonstrated associations with adverse health and alcohol outcomes. Genetics may confer individual differences in the risk of drinking to cope with discrimination-related stress. This study tested whether associations of racial/ethnic discrimination with coping drinking motives and alcohol use differ as a function of a well-documented variant in the alcohol dehydrogenase 1B gene (ADH1B*3).

METHODS

Cross-sectional data were obtained from 241 Black students (Mage  = 20.04 [range = 18-53]; 66% female) attending a predominantly White university in the northeastern United States. Participants provided a saliva sample for genotyping and self-reported on their racial/ethnic discrimination experiences, coping drinking motives, and past-month total alcohol quantity.

RESULTS

Path models demonstrated that associations of discrimination with alcohol quantity directly or indirectly through coping drinking motives did not differ as a function of ADH1B*3, after controlling for gender, age, negative life events, and potential confounding interactions of covariates with model predictors. Regardless of ADH1B*3, greater experience of negative life events was associated with higher coping drinking motives, which in turn were associated with greater alcohol quantity. CONCLUSION AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: Findings represent a novel investigation into gene-environment interplay in associations of alcohol use with racial/ethnic discrimination. Findings demonstrate coping-motivated drinking associated with negative life events within Black college drinkers regardless of ADH1B*3. Future research should leverage longitudinal designs to characterize associations of genetics, stressful experiences, and coping-motivated drinking over time.

Associations between discrimination and substance use among college students in the United States from 2015 to 2019

Discrimination has been associated with adverse health behaviors and outcomes, including substance use. Higher rates of substance use are reported among some marginalized groups, such as lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations, and have been partially attributed to discrimination. This study uses 2015-2019 National College Health Assessment data to determine whether college students reporting discrimination due to sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender, or age report greater substance use than their peers who do not report such experiences. Additionally, we assess exploratory questions regarding whether substance choices differ among students who reported facing discrimination. Over time, about 8.0% of students reported experiencing discrimination in the past year. After applying inverse probability treatment weights (IPTWs), exposure to discrimination was associated with an excess of 44 cases of marijuana use per 1000 students, an excess of 39 cases of alcohol use per 1000 students, and an excess of 11 cases of prescription painkiller use per 1000 students. Multivariable logistic regression models with IPTW demonstrated that students who experienced discrimination were more than twice as likely to use inhalants and methamphetamine. These students were also significantly more likely to use other drugs, including opiates, non-prescribed painkillers, marijuana, alcohol, hallucinogens, cocaine, and cigarettes; however, the differences with peers were smaller in magnitude. Students who experienced discrimination did not differ from peers who reported non-prescribed antidepressants use and were significantly less likely to use e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Associations between discrimination and substance use vary by race, gender, sexual orientation, and age. These findings indicate that discrimination has significant associations with many kinds of substance use; however, the magnitude varies by substance type. More institutional efforts to address sources of discrimination affecting college students are needed.

Risk Pathways Contributing to the Alcohol Harm Paradox: Socioeconomic Deprivation Confers Susceptibility to Alcohol Dependence via Greater Exposure to Aversive Experience, Internalizing Symptoms and Drinking to Cope

Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with greater alcohol problems despite lower alcohol consumption, but the mechanisms underpinning this alcohol harm paradox remain obscure. Fragmented published evidence collectively supports a multistage causal risk pathway wherein socioeconomic deprivation increases the probability of exposure to aversive experience, which promotes internalizing symptoms (depression and anxiety), which promotes drinking alcohol to cope with negative affect, which in turn accelerates the transition from alcohol use to dependence. To evaluate this proposed risk pathway, 219 hazardous drinkers from an undergraduate population completed questionnaires assessing these constructs in a single, cross sectional, online survey. Partial correlation coefficients revealed that each variable showed the strongest unique association with the next variable in the proposed multistage model, when adjusting for the other variables. Bootstrapped serial mediation analysis revealed that the indirect pathway linking all the variables in the proposed serial order was significant, while all other permutations were non-significant. Network centrality analysis corroborated the serial order of this indirect path. Finally, risk ratios estimated by categorizing the variables suggested that socioeconomic deprivation increased the risk of aversive experience by 32%, which increased the risk of internalizing symptoms by 180%, which increased the risk of drinking to cope by 64%, which increased susceptibility to alcohol dependence by 59%. These preliminary findings need to be corroborated by future research, nevertheless, they call for prevention strategies founded on social justice and the minimization of aversive experience in socially deprived individuals to mitigate mental health problems, maladaptive coping and addiction.

Vicarious racial discrimination, racial identity, and alcohol-related outcomes among Black young adults: An experimental approach

Objective: Racial discrimination is a known risk factor for alcohol-related outcomes among young Black American adults. However, vicarious racial discrimination's associations with alcohol-related outcomes and the role of racial identity in these associations remain unknown. This within-subject experiment study tested whether associations of vicarious racial discrimination with alcohol craving and attentional bias differed by three components of racial identity (centrality, private regard, and public regard). Method: Black young adult, at-risk drinkers (N = 51; Mage = 21 [SD = 3.02]; 60% female) completed two vicarious racial discrimination conditions (manipulated by video) followed by alcohol craving and attentional bias tasks. Results: Associations of vicarious discrimination with alcohol craving were exacerbated by high centrality and buffered by high private regard, but did not differ by public regard. No associations of vicarious discrimination with alcohol attention bias were found. Conclusion: Findings highlight the important role of Black racial identity in within-group differences in the impact of vicarious racial discrimination on select implicit indicators of alcohol risk among Black young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Mediated Moderation Model of Depressive Symptoms, Alcohol Use, and Consequences: The Protective Role of Executive Function

Heavy episodic drinking (HED) and negative drinking consequences represent prevalent and serious health concerns for college students. Depressive symptoms may elevate students' risk for engaging in HED and experiencing negative consequences, but levels of risk may vary by executive function (EF) capabilities. Growing evidence suggests that EF deficits are associated with comorbid depressive symptoms and alcohol misuse. Nevertheless, little is known about unique and shared risks that depressive symptoms and EF may interactively pose for HED and negative drinking consequences. Methods: To address these gaps, the study assessed depressive symptoms, multiple domains of EF via multimethod approach, HED, and negative drinking consequences in a sample of 446 undergraduate students. Mediated moderation models were conducted to examine associations between depressive symptoms and alcohol use behaviors and modulating roles of EF. Results: Depressive symptoms, poor planning, and self-reported executive dysfunction were significantly associated with HED and negative drinking consequences. HED mediated the effect of depressive symptoms and executive dysfunction on negative consequences. A significant interaction indicated that better EF (i.e. low or average self-reported executive dysfunction) may buffer the risk depressive symptoms present for negative drinking consequences. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that among college students, risk and resilience factors for HED and negative drinking consequences may vary. Effective EF capabilities may be especially helpful for reducing students' risk for more serious drinking consequences.

Associations between racial and socioeconomic discrimination and risk behaviors among African-American adolescents and young adults: a latent class analysis

PURPOSE

Discrimination is a common stressor among African Americans and may increase vulnerability to risk behaviors, such as early initiation of substance use, substance use problems, and physical aggression; however, few studies have examined different types of discrimination and their associations with patterns of risk behaviors. This study examines the relationship between experiences of racial and socioeconomic discrimination and risk behaviors in African-American adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

We investigated associations of two discrimination types with risk behavior patterns identified with latent class analysis in a high-risk sample of African Americans (N = 797, M_age = 17.9 years, 50.2% female).

RESULTS

Four distinct classes of risk behaviors were characterized by High Use and Aggression (10%), Moderate Use and Aggression (10%), High Alcohol (17%), and Low Use and Aggression (63%). Classes that exhibit general risk behaviors, including substance use and aggression, were significantly associated with racial and socioeconomic discrimination, even in the fully adjusted model. Relative to other classes, the High Use and Aggression class demonstrated an elevated likelihood of experiencing both racial and socioeconomic discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support a link between racial and socioeconomic discrimination and risk behavior in African-American youth, which may be stronger for socioeconomic discrimination. Understanding the relationship between discrimination and risk behavior can inform future interventions to prevent substance misuse and conduct problems in youth. Further study is needed to elucidate the relationship between discrimination and other risk behaviors.

Racial Discrimination, Protective Parenting, and Binge Drinking Among Emerging Adult Black Men

PURPOSE

Rural Black men experience escalating rates of binge drinking during emerging adulthood. We hypothesized that exposure to racial discrimination would predict growth in their binge-drinking trajectories and that protective parenting, including emotional and instrumental support and high expectations for success, would attenuate the influence of racial discrimination on growth in binge drinking.

METHODS

Hypotheses were tested with 3 waves of data from 505 men (ages 20.3, 21.9, and 23.1) participating in the African American Men's Project. Conditional and multigroup latent growth curve models (LGCMs) were implemented using Mplus.

RESULTS

LGCM indicated that binge-drinking frequency increased linearly across time; exposure to racial discrimination at baseline predicted growth in binge drinking (β = 0.19, p < 0.01). Multigroup comparison procedures indicated significant moderation by protective parenting. When protective parenting was high, racial discrimination had no significant influence on rates of young men's binge drinking (β = 0.01, p = 0.51). In contrast, when protective parenting was low, the influence of discrimination was heightened (β = 0.21, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Racial discrimination is a pernicious stressor that contributes to increases in binge drinking among young Black men. When parents engaged in emotionally and instrumentally supportive parenting, however, racial discrimination had little influence on binge-drinking trajectories during emerging adulthood. Study findings underscore the importance of the emerging adult transition as a period of vulnerability and suggest directions for targeting alcohol preventive interventions.

IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION

After high school, young Black men are exposed to racial discrimination that can increase rates of binge drinking. When young men's parents were emotionally and instrumentally supportive toward them, however, racial discrimination did not predict increases in binge drinking.

A longitudinal investigation of racial discrimination, distress intolerance, and psychological well-being in African American college students

There is robust evidence that racism negatively influences health outcomes for African American college students. However, few studies have longitudinally examined the underlying mechanisms related to the repercussions of racism.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between racial discrimination and psychological well-being (PWB), as well as the mediating role of distress intolerance.

METHOD

As part of a larger parent study, a sample of 105 African American first-year undergraduate students (mean age = 18.1) completed three surveys across 1 year. The RMediation program was used to test the indirect effect of racism on PWB through distress intolerance.

RESULTS

There was a significant positive indirect effect of racism on PWB through distress intolerance, such that increased racism was associated with increased distress intolerance, which was thus associated with decreased PWB.

CONCLUSIONS

Intervention efforts may be aimed at preventing racism for African American college students and providing clinical services that reduce distress intolerance.

Racial discrimination and alcohol use and negative drinking consequences among Black Americans: a meta-analytical review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Findings of the association between racial discrimination and alcohol use and related consequences are inconsistent, and the role of potential moderators in the association is largely unknown. This meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the discrimination-alcohol literature among Black Americans, estimate the magnitude of associations and explore differences as a function of sample characteristics.

METHODS

Empirical studies reporting the association of racial discrimination with alcohol-related behaviors in an all-black sample were identified via systematic literature search. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted using 33 effect sizes extracted from 27 studies, all of which used US samples (n = 26 894).

RESULTS

Significant positive associations were found for racial discrimination with alcohol consumption [k = 9, confidence interval (CI) = 0.08, 0.17, I²  = 49%, r = 0.12], heavy/binge drinking (k = 12, CI = 0.02, 0.10), I²  = 27%, r = 0.06), at-risk drinking (k = 4, CI = 0.06, 0.23, I²  = 0%, r = 0.14) and negative drinking consequences (k = 5, CI = 0.09, 0.25, I²  = 94%, r = 0.25), but not with alcohol use disorder (k = 3, CI = -0.01, 0.20, I²  = 90%, r = 0.10). Only alcohol consumption and negative drinking consequences showed significant between-study heterogeneity and had a sufficient quantity of studies for moderation analysis (i.e., 4 or more studies). The positive association of racial discrimination with negative drinking consequences was stronger among younger samples; the association with alcohol consumption did not differ by age or proportion of men.

CONCLUSIONS

Experiences of racial discrimination are associated with diverse alcohol-related behaviors among Black Americans, with a stronger association with problematic alcohol use, particularly among younger individuals.