Consumption of alcohol in adolescents in Madrid (Spain): influence of ethnic identity Latino and Spanish nationality

Alcohol is the substance adolescents consume most in their leisure spaces, and these differ
according to special social categories. Aims. This article aims to approach the relationship
between ethnic Latino identity and Spanish nationality in alcohol consumption by Madrid
adolescents. It includes an analysis of the reasons why they drink alcohol and the risk situations
they undergo under this substance. Method. Descriptive inferential study with an ad hoc
questionnaire self-administered to 2890 adolescents from 12 to 18 years old; stratified sampling
in Ten Educational Centers in Madrid. Results. 7.4% of the adolescents identified themselves
as Latin-American, and 73.4% as Spanish. The identification as a Latin-American was associated
with a higher motivation for consumption related to lack of inhibition, having been inebriated
with loss of consciousness, higher self-perception of alcohol abuse and higher risk in sexual
intercourse. Identification as being Spanish was more frequent in women than in men, and was
not related to any variable of alcohol consumption or abuse. Intersexual differences in analyzed
variables were significant for the age of onset for consumption and alcohol intoxication behavior.
Conclusions. Results lead to take into account cultural variables and those related to social
identity in preventive intervention to increase efficiency and effectiveness.