Longitudinal Effects of Latines’ Ethnic-racial Identity on Outcomes: Relationships During the Pandemic as Mediators

• In Event: The impact of COVID-19 on ethnic-racial issues

Abstract

Excessive alcohol use and mental health challenges during emerging adulthood are significant public health concerns, and disparities exist based on ethnicity and race (Cage et al., 2020). Specifically, Latine emerging adults are at high risk for alcohol use, binge drinking, heavy drinking, alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-related disparities (i.e., injuries, chronic liver disease, and legal; problems; Cano., 2020; Sy et al., 2017; Vaeth et al., 2017). Further, they disproportionately have less access to mental health services for anxiety-related symptoms and disorders (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). Emerging literature has documented that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these disparities, such that the context of the pandemic has increased anxiety symptoms and alcohol use among Latine individuals (Su et al., 2022; Trucco et al., 2022). Given the disparities faced by Latine individuals that have widened during the pandemic, the current study aimed to identify potentially modifiable underlying mechanisms that are influential for anxiety symptoms and alcohol use over time.
Thus, guided by conceptual propositions documented by Pepping et al. (2018) and Slatcher and Schoebi (2017) the current study tested whether ethnic-racial identity (ERI) affirmation assessed prior to the pandemic (spring of 2019; Time 1; T1) was associated with relationship quality with friends and romantic partners at the onset of the pandemic (spring of 2020; T2) and, in turn, anxiety symptoms and alcohol use in the fall 2020 (T3). The current study included 86 Latine emerging adults' (Mage = 19.99, SD = .32) attending a mid-Atlantic university in the U.S. who were participating in a longitudinal study before and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Analyses were conducted by using path analyses in Mplus version 8.4 (Muthén & Muthén, 2019), with full information maximum likelihood to handle missing data. The hypothesized model had good fit: χ2 (df = 2) = .08, p = .96; RMSEA = 0.00 [90% C.I. = 0.00 - 0.00]; CFI = 1.00; SRMR = .01 (Figure 1). Findings indicated that Latine emerging adults with greater ERI affirmation at T1 reported greater relationship quality with a romantic partner at T2 (b = 2.61, p = .00), which was associated with lower alcohol use (b = -.47, p = .00) and anxiety symptoms (b = -.47, p = .01) at T3. Contrary to expectations, T1 ERI affirmation was not significantly associated with T2 relationship quality with friends (b = .57, p = .20). Further, T2 relationship quality with friends was not significantly associated with T3 anxiety symptoms (b = .50, p = .07) or T3 alcohol use (b = .11, p = .65). All mediation paths were significant.
Discussion will center on the importance of ERI affirmation and fostering positive relationships with romantic partners to promote better mental health and alcohol outcomes over time. The current findings can guide mental health professionals (e.g., couple counselors, family therapists, substance abuse counselors, treatment leaders) who work with individuals who may be experiencing anxiety symptoms or alcohol use disorder. Limitations and implications will be further discussed.

Authors

• Arlenis Santana, Virginia Commonwealth University
  Presenting Author

• Mehak Ahmed, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Chelsea Williams, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Diamond Bravo, University of California - Riverside

• April Koontz, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Vanessa Olazabal, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Oswaldo Moreno, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Kristina Hood, Virginia Commonwealth University

• The Spit for Science Working Group, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Jasmin Vassileva, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Danielle Dick, Rutgers University

• Ananda Amstadter, Virginia Commonwealth University