Psychosocial factors associated with substance use among youth in Hawaiʻi

Abstract

Adolescent substance use is a prominent public health concern, with heavy use or abuse of substances being associated with acute or chronic health problems and has been found to be comorbid with other mental health disorders. Research on adolescent substance use for Asian and Pacific Islander adolescents have not typically taken into consideration the differences across the heterogeneous ethnic groups. The dissertation study assessed the prevalence substance abuse and dependence rates (by utilizing DSMIV criteria) among the four major ethnic groups of Hawai'i (i.e., Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, and Caucasian) and examined the relationship among risk factors, protective factors, and demographic variables relating to adolescents substance use. A total of 196 high school students (in the 9th and 12'h grade) participated in the Study. Students were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC), the American Drug and Alcohol Survey (AD AS), and the Prevention Planning Survey (PPS). There were 50 (25.5%) Native Hawaiian, 49 (25.0%) Japanese, 50 (25.4%) Filipino, and 47 (24.0%) Caucasian students. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, factor analysis (on the PPS), and univariate as well as multiple logistic regression were conducted. There were 30 students (15.5% of the sample) that met criteria for DISC Alcohol or Marijuana Abuse or Dependence, with 62% of the sample reporting Any Alcohol or Marijuana Use. Pairwise logistic regressions found that Native Hawaiian rates were significantly greater than Japanese and Caucasian students. Statistically significant multiple logistic regressions (i.e., the model included gender, grade level, ethnicity, main wage earner's educational level, and 7 factors of the PPS) were found for all 6 dependent variables, with 49% of the variance for ADAS Any Alcohol or Marijuana Use being accounted for. The findings show there are differences when ethnic groups are disaggregated for Asian and Pacific Islander students and future research should take this finding into consideration. When there is a greater understanding of the distinct differences across Asian and Pacific Islander students, the findings can then be applied to develop culturally appropriate intervention and prevention strategies.