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Post-immigration Changes in Social Capital and Substance Use Among Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida: Differences by Documentation Status

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Abstract

Changing social capital among recent Latino immigrants (RLIs) influences substance use post-immigration. This was a longitudinal study of 476 South/Central American RLIs examining social capital and substance use changes pre to post-immigration. Self-reported measures of social capital and substance use were compared between surveys administered within 1 year of immigration and 2 years post-immigration. Post-immigration, social capital, hazardous drinking and illicit drug use decreased. Women were less likely to engage in hazardous drinking [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) .32, p < .001], and less likely to use illicit drugs (AOR .67, p = .01). Documented individuals with higher levels of ‘business’ social capital had increased odds of illicit drug use (AOR 2.20, p < .05). Undocumented individuals with higher levels of ‘friend and others’ social capital had decreased risk for hazardous drinking and illicit drug use (AOR .55, p < .01; AOR .56, p < .05). Documentation status moderated the relationship between social capital and substance use. RLIs can be targeted for primary prevention of substance abuse.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Award Number P20MD002288 from National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIMHD or the National Institutes of Health. This study was also supported by the FIU Graduate School Dissertation Year Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    E. Cyrus, M. J. Trepka, E. Gollub & K. Fennie

  2. Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA), Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    E. Cyrus, M. J. Trepka, M. Kanamori & M. De La Rosa

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    T. Li & A. N. Albatineh

  4. School of Social Work, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    M. De La Rosa

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  1. E. Cyrus
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  8. M. De La Rosa
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Correspondence to E. Cyrus.

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Cyrus, E., Trepka, M.J., Kanamori, M. et al. Post-immigration Changes in Social Capital and Substance Use Among Recent Latino Immigrants in South Florida: Differences by Documentation Status. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 1697–1704 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0191-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0191-3

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