Perceived discrimination and alcohol consumption in an indigenous population

Abstract

Introduction. Indigenous populations are considered a vulnerable minority and have characteristics such as poverty, difficulties to access food, housing, and educational backwardness; these conditions make them prone to alcohol consumption problems. Dependence on alcohol consumption probably arises as a symbol of protest, challenge, and response to social anguish, which has in turn repercussions in marginal population sectors that have conditions of fragility due to exploitation and discrimination, such as indigenous people.

Objective. To know the effect of perceived discrimination on alcohol consumption in Mexican indigenous population.

Method. Research design was descriptive, correlational check-model, with a sample of 362 adults from two indigenous communities.

Results. A simple linear regression model was performed, which shows a significant effect in the entire model (F_[248] = 78.312, p = .001), which explains 49% of the variance of alcohol consumption. A significant positive influence was also found from the perceived discrimination variable (β = .626, p < .001) on alcohol consumption.

Discussion and conclusion. The studied indigenous communities had characteristics that the literature highlights as risk factors for developing addictive behaviors of alcohol consumption. These results coincide with those of the National Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous population present discrimination problems that are associated with alcohol consumption problems.