Acculturation domains, drinking motives, and alcohol use and consequences among Asian American university students

Bibliographic Data

ID6429784
AuthorsByron L Zamboanga (0000-0001-9763-2407, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, corresponding author), Lin Tan (0000-0002-9384-264X, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville), Kathryne Van Hedger (0000-0002-3797-3434, Western University), Derek Heim (0000-0003-3456-0404, Edge Hill University), Lindsay S Ham (0000-0002-2497-9263, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville), Y Kim (0000-0002-3109-6362), Rebecca L Monk (0000-0002-3554-9007, Edge Hill University), Amie R Newins (0000-0002-4900-2424, University of Central Florida), Jo-Anne Puddephatt (0000-0003-3441-4052, Edge Hill University), Su Yeong Kim (0000-0001-9222-2505, The University of Texas at Austin), Dennis Mcchargue, Dennis E McChargue (0000-0003-4021-4452, University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
Year2025
Volume110
Pages102325-102325
Publication date2025-11-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Intercultural Relations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0147-1767 • E-ISSN: 1873-7552
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ijintrel.2025.102325
OpenAlexW4416784632
LanguageEN
References cited46

Although Asian American (AA) college students tend to exhibit lower prevalence of heavy alcohol use compared to other racial/ethnic groups, excessive alcohol consumption within this population occurs. It has been suggested that U.S. acculturation may be associated with both alcohol use and negative alcohol consequences. Theory and research with other ethnic groups point to the importance of drinking motives in influencing alcohol consumption and consequences. However, the extent to which acculturation is associated with drinking behaviors, particularly when examined simultaneously with drinking motives in a multivariate context has not been delineated among AA college students. Using multivariate modeling techniques with a multisite sample of AA college student drinkers ( n = 243), we tested how specific acculturation domains (cultural practices/identity) and drinking motives were associated with alcohol use and negative drinking consequences. Results indicated that higher endorsement of heritage cultural practices was related to less alcohol use but more negative alcohol consequences. These associations remained significant after accounting for drinking motives and known demographic predictors of alcohol use. Higher endorsement of enhancement motives was associated with elevated alcohol use while higher coping-depression motives were related to negative alcohol consequences. Overall, our findings suggest that heritage cultural practice aspects of acculturation are a protective factor against increased alcohol use that may also be a risk factor for negative alcohol consequences among AA students. Further work within AA college student samples and various racial/ethnic groups is recommended to examine the extent to which certain acculturation domains may exert contradictory effects on alcohol consumption and associated consequences.

Acculturation · Alcohol · Alcohol consumption · Consumption (sociology) · Context (archaeology) · Ethnic group · Multivariate analysis · Population · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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