Perceived Barriers to Opportunity and Their Relation to Substance Use among Latino Immigrant Men

Citation

Ornelas, India J.; Eng, Eugenia; & Perreira, Krista M. (2011). Perceived Barriers to Opportunity and Their Relation to Substance Use among Latino Immigrant Men. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34(3), 182-191. PMCID: PMC3138402

Abstract

Theory and empirical evidence suggest that perceived barriers to opportunity, such as discrimination, can lead to the adoption of unhealthy behaviors. The study assessed the relationship between perceived racial/ethnic, language and legal status barriers to opportunity and substance use among Latino immigrant men in North Carolina. Logistic regression was used to test for the association between perceived barriers and odds of binge drinking in the past 30 days and cigarette smoking. In both crude and adjusted models, perceived language barriers (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.78-5.25) and legal status barriers (OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.26-4.01) were associated with increased odds of having engaged in binge drinking. Perceived barriers to opportunity were not significantly associated with cigarette smoking. Further research is needed to better understand the effect of language and legal status barriers on health among Latino immigrants.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10865-010-9297-1

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2011

Journal Title

Journal of Behavioral Medicine

Author(s)

Ornelas, India J.
Eng, Eugenia
Perreira, Krista M.

PMCID

PMC3138402

ORCiD

Perreira - 0000-0003-2906-0261