Effects of daily discrimination and microaggressions on alcohol use and related consequences among Latine college students at a predominantly White institution.

OBJECTIVE

Latine college students at predominantly White institutions face discriminatory stress, increasing their risk for problematic alcohol use. The specific impact of daily discrimination and microaggressions on alcohol use and related consequences, relative to other college stressors (e.g., academics, finances), remains understudied. This study used an intensive daily longitudinal design to examine whether these experiences independently affect alcohol use and related consequences.

METHOD: The study enrolled 109 Latine student drinkers (Mage = 19.95; 77% female) from a large predominantly White institution in the northeastern United States. Participants completed a baseline survey, an in-person training session, and 28 consecutive daily surveys. Multilevel models analyzed the data, examining within- and between-person effects while controlling for college stress, trauma history, and relevant demographic variables.

RESULTS

Participants had an average survey completion rate of 89.1% (∼25 of 28 surveys). Within-person, daily experiences of discrimination and microaggressions were associated with increased alcohol use and consequences. Between-person, these factors predicted alcohol-related consequences but did not significantly affect alcohol use when controlling for college stress, trauma, and demographics.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily discrimination and microaggressions independently contribute to alcohol use and its consequences for Latine students, beyond other common stressors faced by college students. These findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive interventions addressing discriminatory stress. Predominantly White institutions should also consider policy changes to better support minoritized students and mitigate the negative effects of discrimination on their well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).