Examination of the psychological and cultural factors related to alcohol use in American Indian people

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: The primary purposes of this study were to identify significant predictors of alcohol use and alcohol expectancies; and acculturation group differences in alcohol use and alcohol expectancies in an American Indian sample. The participants were 188 American Indians from a variety of tribal affiliations. Data was collected using an on-line survey. Each participant completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Alcohol Effects Questionnaire, the Historical Loss Questionnaire, the Historical Loss Associated Symptoms Questionnaire, and the Native American Acculturation Scale. T-tests, Pearson r Correlations, Multiple Regressions, Forward Regressions, ANOVAs, and MANOVAs were conducted to answer the five research questions.

Findings and Conclusions: Gender differences were found between alcohol use and alcohol expectancies. Men in this sample made up the majority of hazardous drinkers and expected more feelings of Social and Physical Pleasure and Power and Aggression from alcohol use. Hazardous and non-hazardous drinkers differed in all of 6 of the alcohol expectancies. All 6 of the alcohol expectancies\ were significantly correlated with alcohol use and Historical Loss Feelings; Historical Loss Feelings were a significant predictor of all 6 alcohol expectancies. However, the alcohol expectancy for Sexual Enhancement was significantly predicted by both Historical Loss Feelings and acculturation. Alcohol use was significantly predicted by the alcohol expectancies for Social and Physical Pleasure and Power and Aggression, and Historical Loss Feelings. Acculturation did not relate significantly to alcohol use, Historical Loss Thoughts, or Historical Loss Feelings.