Document Type

Poster

Date of Original Version

3-27-2026

Abstract

Student Author and Department: Riza Tolga Ulman, Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Health Sciences, URI Faculty Sponsor/Advisor and Department: Hector Lopez-Vergara, Department of Psychology, College of Health Sciences, URI Full citation: Ulman, R. T., Rozum, W., Grados, M., Vergara-Lopez, C., & Lopez-Vergara, H. I. (2026, March 27–28). Using multi-group path analysis to examine variability in risk for alcohol problems across race/ethnicity and gender [Poster presentation]. Graduate Student Conference, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. (Submitted) Background: Previous research has shown that alcohol use problems are a substantial public health concern. The addiction literature has previously identified that a predictor of alcohol use disorders is the age of substance use initiation, with an earlier age of onset being a robust risk factor. For example, longitudinal studies have shown a correlation between alcohol use initiation before the age of 15 and elevated problematic alcohol use in young adulthood (DeWit et al., 2000; Dawson et al., 2008). However, potentially preventing generalizability, most of this research operates under colorblind and genderblind methodological approaches (Rozum et al., 2025). In other words, most research either ignores race/ethnicity and gender similarities/differences or uses these variables as “covariates” to “wash away” any similarities/differences. Purpose: This study aims to test if the negative correlation between the age of alcohol use initiation and future problematic alcohol use show variability across intersectional race/ethnicity (Black, Latino/a, and White) and cis-gender categories (women, man). . Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants (n = 1,187; 16.26% Black women, 17.61% Latina women, 15.67% White women, 16.68% Black men, 17.10% Latino men, and 16.68% White men) ages 18–26 completed online surveys. Information about alcohol use initiation (yes/no; any lifetime use) and age of first use (≤ 8, 9–10, 11–2, 13–14, 15–16, or ≥ 17 years old) was collected (Pang et al., 2015). In addition, problematic alcohol use was measured through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) which is made up of ten questions (Saunders et al., 1993). Multi-group path analyses will explore if means and covariances between age of alcohol use initiation and alcohol use problems vary across intersectional race/ethnicity and gender identities. Results: Final analyses are pending. Initial analyses suggest meaningful intersectional group differences in alcohol use initiation, as well as in AUDIT scores. For the total sample, results show that use of alcohol in early adolescence does correlate with high levels of problematic drinking. Testing the inter-group variability in means and covariances between AUDIT scores and initiation age will be expired via multi-group path analysis with Wald Tests of between-group statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest that earlier alcohol initiation is associated with greater alcohol-related risk among young adults, although meaningful variation of this correlation among racial/ethnic and gender groups has still not been falsifiably explored. The lead author is currently enrolled in academic coursework at URI designed to conduct these analyses before the end of the semester.

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