Health-compromising behaviors among a multi-ethnic sample of canadian high school students: Risk-enhancing effects of discrimination and acculturation

This article examines whether acculturation and experiences of discrimination help to explain observed ethnic disparities in rates of three health-compromising behaviors: interpersonal violence, drinking, and cannabis use. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 3,400 high school students from Toronto, Canada, sampled in 1998-2000. Multivariate ordinary least squares and logistic regression models tested for baseline differences in the health-compromising behaviors by ethnic identity. Subsequent models adjusted for control measures and introduced acculturation and discrimination measures. Results confirm that experiences of discrimination and acculturation are risk enhancing, whereas active cultural retention appears to protect ethnic youth from participation in health-compromising activities.