Gendered Racism and Asian American Men's Hazardous Alcohol Use: The Role of Drinking to Cope.

Background

Gendered racism has been previously associated with greater alcohol use among Asian American men (AAM), yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood.

Objectives

This study thus investigated whether gendered racism is associated with hazardous alcohol use among AAM directly and indirectly via drinking to cope and resistance and empowerment against racism. 253 AAM (M = 36.75 years old) completed an online cross-sectional survey that contained the study questionnaires. Hierarchical regression analyses examined the association between gendered racism and hazardous alcohol use, and mediation analyses investigated whether drinking to cope and resistance and empowerment against racism underlied this association.

Results

Results showed that gendered racism was positively associated with hazardous alcohol use directly and indirectly via drinking to cope and resistance and empowerment. Our findings suggest AAM may engage in hazardous drinking as a coping mechanism in response to the insidious effects of gendered racism. Engaging in drinking to cope with emotions and activism for racial justice help explain this association.

Conclusion

Practitioners may consider prioritizing intersectionality of gender and race in their understanding of AAM's drinking habits, with possible directions that include exploring ways for AAM to develop more affirming and positive feelings about their identity and developing alternative forms of coping that preclude drinking.