Date of Award

2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology

Specialization

Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Nicole Weiss

Abstract

The common perception of Asian Americans as a low-risk group for alcohol use and related harms contributes to the dearth of research among this population within the larger substance use literature. However, dramatic increases in prevalence of alcohol consumption have been documented for this group, and a growing body of research has revealed high-risk subgroups within the Asian American community. Emotion dysregulation is one transdiagnostic factor has been linked to greater alcohol use and related harms. Conversely, higher levels of racial-ethnic identity have been found to buffer against alcohol use and related harms. The aim of the current study is to investigate the moderating role of racial-ethnic identity in the relation between emotion dysregulation and alcohol use and related harms among a community sample of Asian Americans. A community sample of Asian Americans (N = 105, 73.0% women) participated in a study examining emotional experiences across different racial and ethnic groups that assessed emotion dysregulation, alcohol use behaviors and related harms, and ethnic-racial identity. Negative and positive emotion dysregulation were significantly positively associated with alcohol use and related harms. A series of moderation analyses revealed that different dimensions of ethnic-racial identity moderated this relationship. Negative emotion dysregulation was significantly positively associated with alcohol use behaviors and related harms at lower levels of ethnic-racial identity Affirmation, and positive emotion dysregulation was significantly positively associated with alcohol use behaviors and related harms at higher levels of ethnic-racial identity Resolution. Overall, these results support the relevance of ethnic-racial identity in the relationship between emotion dysregulation and alcohol use and related harms.

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