Ethnic identity has also been identified as a buffer against substance use by mitigating the effects of racial discrimination on perceived stress, depression, problem behavior, involvement with deviant peers, and psychological well-being (Greene, Way, & Pahl, 2006; Sellers, Caldwell, Schmeelk-Cone, & Zimmerman, 2003; Stock, Gibbons, Walsh, & Gerrard, 2011; Williams, Neighbors, & Jackson, 2003). Stock and colleagues (2011) suggested that possible reasons for the buffering effect of ethnic identity against substance abuse, specifically when racial discrimination is present, include the following: a) heightened racial identity eliciting positive feelings about the self as a minority; b) endorsement of African American cultural norms, which emphasize bonds with family and racial group, which in turn, enhance feelings of belonging and social support; and c) being salient of one’s racial identity may motivate one to debunk stereotypes of African Americans as users while embracing a positive identification. Understanding the role of protective factors, such as racial identity, in the midst of risk factors, such as racial discrimination, is important in understanding the mechanisms by which certain African Americans are at increased or decreased risk for alcoholism.
