A cross-ethnic comparison of reasons given for using alcohol, not using alcohol or ceasing to use alcohol (original) (raw)

1985, Journal of studies on alcohol

ABSI'RACT. In a study that included six different racial-ethnic groups in Hawaii, the reasons given by drinkers for drinking, abstainers for not drinking and former drinkers for ceasing to drink were assessed. Although there were group differences in frequencies of endorsement of given reasons for drinking, for not drinking or for ceasing to drink, the findings of similarity were most impressive. Drinkers, abstainers and former drinkers were similar across racial-ethnic groups in their proportions of endorsement of given reasons for drinking, abstaining or ceasing to use alcohol. Although reasons for drinking varied across racialethnic groups, they varied much more across groups that differed in alcohol consumption independent of ethnicity, with all reasons for drinking being more often endorsed as consumption increased. In addition, the citation of more pathological reasons for drinking was associated with a greater number of drinking problems. (J. Stud. Alcohol 46: 283-288, 1985) HE PRESENT REPORT is one of a continuing series of articles reporting analyses of survey data concerning use of alcohol and attitudes toward alcohol use obtained from members of six racial-ethnic groups in Hawaii. Persons of Caucasian, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian-part-Hawaiian, Hapa-Haole (one parent of Oriental, the other of Caucasian ancestry) or Japanese ancestry completed a questionnaire • that included demographic questions, personality scales (e.g., locus of control, anomie) and a large number of questions having to do with attitude toward alcohol and use of alcohol (frequency of drinking; quantity measures for beer, wine and distilled spirits separately). Differences between ethnic groups in the proportion of abstainers to the total number and in the proportion of former drinkers among those persons who had ever used alcohol are substantial (Wilson et al., 1978). There are also substantial differences in the actual amounts of alcohol reportedly used by members of different groups (Schwitters et al., 1982b, 1983; Wilson et al., 1978). By most criteria, Caucasians are the heaviest users of alcohol, whereas Chinese t•se the least.