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Neighborhood Ethnic Composition and Problem Drinking Among Older Mexican American Men: Results from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly

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Abstract

Ethnic enclaves may be protective for health. This study investigates the effects of neighborhood co-ethnic density on problem drinking among older Mexican American men. Probability sample of 2,086 community-dwelling Mexican Americans aged 75 or older drawn in 2004–2005 residing in communities in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. Problem drinking was found among 15.3 % of men (n = 350). For each percent increase in neighborhood percent Mexican American, men had 2 % lower odds of problem drinking [odds ratio (OR) 0.98; P < 0.05]. U.S. born men had lower odds of problem drinking (OR 0.40; P < 0.05) compared with foreign born men, while English language use was associated with greater odds of problem drinking (OR 2.14; P < 0.05). Older Mexican American men in neighborhoods with low levels of co-ethnic density, the foreign born, and those with English language facility had an increased likelihood of problem drinking.

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Acknowledgments

The Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly was funded by the National Institute on Aging (Grant No. AG-10939). Thanks to Kushang V. Patel for comments on an earlier version of this manuscript and Shana Khan for assistance in preparing references.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Louisiana State University, 126 Stubbs Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA

    Samuel Stroope

  2. Department of Sociology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA

    Brandon C. Martinez

  3. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Karl Eschbach

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    M. Kristen Peek & Kyriakos S. Markides

Authors
  1. Samuel Stroope
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  2. Brandon C. Martinez
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  3. Karl Eschbach
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  4. M. Kristen Peek
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  5. Kyriakos S. Markides
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Correspondence to Samuel Stroope.

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Stroope, S., Martinez, B.C., Eschbach, K. et al. Neighborhood Ethnic Composition and Problem Drinking Among Older Mexican American Men: Results from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 1055–1060 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0033-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0033-8

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