Attributions About Addiction Among Latina Women

• NCJ Number: 237650
• Journal: Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: July - September 2011 Pages: 209-229
• Author(s): Frank R. Dillon Ph.D.; Mario De La Rosa Ph.D.; Patria Rojas Ph.D., M.P.H., M.S.W.; Seth J. Schwartz Ph.D.; Rui Duan M.P.H.
• Date Published: September 2011
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): P20MD002288; R24DA014260; R01DA019409
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Ctr on Minority Health and Health Disparities
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study utilized data from a prior study of intergenerational substance use among Latina women.

Abstract

This cross-sectional, secondary analysis study utilizes data from a prior study of intergenerational substance use among Latina women (n = 316). The authors explored the influence of substance use frequency and type, as well as cultural and socioeconomic factors on attributions about addiction among a predominantly immigrant sample of Latina women. Women who were less proficient in English (an indicator of adoption of the receiving culture in the acculturation process) and more proficient in Spanish (an indicator of heritage-culture retention) endorsed more spiritual model attributions than women who were more proficient in English and less proficient in Spanish. Women who were more proficient in Spanish more frequently endorsed the disease attribution model. Alcohol, marijuana use, and nonmedical sedative use were linked with spiritual, moral character, and disease attribution models, respectively. Participants reporting higher education levels indicated less agreement with the moral/character model of addiction. Implications for culturally tailored social work interventions for Latina women are discussed. (Published Abstract)