Investigating racial discrimination and substance use in black adolescents
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Racial discrimination is a risk factor for several internalizing (e.g., depressive
symptoms, anxiety symptoms) and externalizing (e.g., substance use) behaviors. Black
Americans, specifically Black adolescents, are most vulnerable to the deleterious
effects of racial discrimination because of their racial background and developmental
period in life. In addition, adolescents have increased susceptibility to engaging in
risky behaviors such as substance use. The purpose of the current cross-sectional
study was to investigate the association between racial discrimination and adolescent
substance use above-and-beyond psychological well-being, social support, and other
covariates (i.e., sex, age, income) which may undermine this association. ‘Above-and-
beyond’ in this context means, ‘regardless of’’ adolescent’s current psychological
well-being or social support. In addition, protective factors such as social support was
also investigated as a potential moderator of the association between racial
discrimination and adolescent substance use. Critical race theory and the stress coping
theory of adolescent substance use serve as the theoretical foundations for this
investigation, discrimination being a race-based stress provoking risk factor leading to
the coping strategy of adolescent substance use. Data are utilized from one of the
largest and most comprehensive nationally representative studies of Black adolescent
mental health in the United States (National Survey of American Life -Adolescent
Supplement [NSAL-A]). This analysis included 52% female and 48% male
adolescents (N=1170, n=1146), aged 13-17. Hierarchical linear regression analysis
was used to examine the amount of variance in substance use after accounting for
psychological well-being, social support, sex, age, and income. Results indicated a positive significant association between racial discrimination and substance use above-
and-beyond psychological well-being and social support. Analyses revealed that sex,
age, and social support were also significantly associated with adolescent substance
use; however, in contrast with the hypothesis, findings demonstrated social support
does not moderate the relationship between racial discrimination and adolescent
substance use. There is a need for further examination in regards to social support
considering previous literature results are often inconsistent with significance and
directionality. These findings support the need for prevention and early intervention
efforts for adolescent substance use and also highlights the severe effects of
discrimination in adolescence. Several factors like psychological well-being and social
support affect adolescent behavior outcomes such as substance use. Adolescence is
one of the most critical developmental periods. Though discrimination has
detrimental effects on all populations and should be eradicated and reduced at all
levels, interventionists and clinicians must specifically address discrimination for
substance use prevention and treatment among Black adolescents and also consider
other influential factors such as psychological well-being and social support. Black
adolescents experience racial disparities in adolescent outcomes (i.e., well-being,
performance). These disparities partly stem from racial discrimination. Disparities in
adolescent outcomes will persist into adulthood and perpetuate inequality in the future;
thus, for that reason it is important to address these issues in adolescence.
Description
Keywords
Adolescents, Discrimination, Mental health, Racial disparities, Social support, Substance use