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Summary
The research “Social relationships, social assimilation, and substance-use disorders among adult Latinos in the U.S.” conducted by Canino et al. in 2008 have been published in the Journal of Drug Issues. The scientists measured the cases of drug abuse among the given group and explored factors that influenced socialization. The initial theory addressed the fact that Latinos born outside of the U.S. have lower rates of substance use disorders (SUD) than ones with a U.S. birthplace (Canino et al., 2008). Individuals’ social relations with their peers and families, language, and other assimilation practices were distinguished based on gender.
The study included two main hypotheses that could be simultaneously tested on the data about SUD and Latino adults’ assimilation. The initial hypothesis is that adult Latinos with more social assimilation will have a greater prevalence of lifetime SUD (Canino et al., 2008). Moreover, representatives with worse family relationships will have higher SUD rates than ones with better family connections (Canino et al., 2008). The research’s data was studied separately for men and women, thus the hypotheses were tested with the same approach.
To design the study, scientists used data from Latinos from the National Latino and Asian American Survey to retrieve the necessary group. Indeed, Canino et al. (2008) sampled “2,554 Latinos 18 years of age and older of Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or Other Latino self-identified origin, living in the non-institutionalized population” (p. 74). The responses to surveys were received mostly via face-to-face interviews within participants’ homes. The SUD rates were assessed based on English and Spanish versions of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) and calculated according to the APA’s criteria for abuse and dependence (Canino et al., 2008). The survey also included questions about participants’ knowledge of English, their mother tongue, relationships at home, and certain family members.
Statistical analyses were based on the tables with interviews’ responses and calculations of rates and patterns. Aside from the hypotheses testing, the results also revealed that the immigrants have lower educational levels, and their English fluency is significantly lower. Higher odds of SUD are more associated with individuals who use English more frequently than Spanish in their families. The research concluded that one in twenty immigrants had a history of SUD, while the rate for ones born in the U.S. is one in five (Canino et al., 2008). Furthermore, the participants who experienced drug abuse reported low rates of family support and harmony in their relationships (Canino et al., 2008). Consequently, both hypotheses stated in the research were submitted by the surveys’ results.
The study’s results were presented separately by gender due to the difference in life experience and social roles of male and female representatives. Canino et al. (2008) concluded that “SUD was positively associated with problematic family relations for men but not women, and with more frequent interactions with friends for women but not men” (p. 69). Female immigrants had a 0.8% diagnosis rate compared to 10.2% of the U.S.-born, and 10.0% opposed to 28.4% for male representatives respectively (Canino et al., 2008). The researchers mentioned that the limitations of the study’s separation by gender are based on the different relationship patterns and substance use motivation factors for men and women. The study retrieved valuable data regarding the interdependence of assimilation and social relations with SUD for Latinos.
Analysis
The study of SUD rates, their reasons, and distinctions based on gender for a specific ethnicity is a valuable contribution to the worldwide drug abuse prevention practices. Furthermore, as Latinos are the largest immigrant group in the United States, addressing their issues is beneficial for the nation (Goode, 2014). The design represents the standard approaches established by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, making the research convenient to include in further explorations and references or to compare with the previous ones (Goode, 2014). The study’s advantage is the sampling group, adult Latinos because various life factors solely related to them can be considered with fewer limitations.
However, there are several limitations related to the study’s results, measurements, and hypotheses. For instance, cross-sectional studies cannot provide solid evidence for a direct correlation between factors like family relationships and SUD (Goode, 2014). Besides, the piece of the population which was not surveyed can significantly influence the results. Goode (2014) also emphasizes the survey’s weak point as “many people consciously underestimate the extent of their consumption of psychoactive substances” (p. 173). Consequently, the problem of irrelevant or unrealistic conclusions might appear and leave some critical issues unseen.
Aside from the hypotheses submission, the study is critical because it provides evidence of a correlation between psychosocial attitudes that have been associated with SUD with social assimilation practices. The information can be used to develop frameworks for warnings, make predictions, and identify emerging drug abuse issues for a particular group (Goode, 2014). The research also clarified that although Latino immigrants face assimilation challenges such as educational and language gaps, they are less likely to get the SUD.
References
Canino, G., Vega, W. A., Sribney, W. M., Warner, L. A., & Alegria, M. (2008). Social relationships, social assimilation, and substance use disorders among adult Latinos in the U.S. Journal of Drug Issues, 38(1), 69-101. Web.
Goode, E. (2014). Drugs in American society (9th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
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