Meta-Analysis on the Relation Between Acculturation and Alcohol Use Among Immigrant Youth

Purpose: We empirically examined the relation between acculturation and alcohol use in immigrant youth, with attention to demographic and methodological moderators. Methods: We identified 43 studies (38 empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals and 6 dissertations) yielding 66 independent samples and 118 effect sizes. The total sample size was 61,851 immigrant youth from birth to 25 years of age (M = 937.14, standard deviation = 1,271.24) with a mean age of 15.50 years (standard deviation = 2.46). Results: The average effect size for the fixed effects model was .04 with a 95% confidence interval of .03–.05, which was significantly different from zero (p < .001). The average effect size for the random effects model was .05 with a 95% confidence interval of .02–.08, which was significantly different from zero (p = .002). Location of the study, age of participants, type of measurements used to assess acculturation and alcohol use, and publication year were significant moderators. Conclusions: This meta-analytic review supported the immigrant paradox in which acculturation puts immigrant youth at risk for alcohol use. Several demographic and methodological factors also moderated this relation in a significant way. Important implications are discussed.