Fewer studies have examined symptom patterns in racial/ethnic groups. The present study found that among Blacks, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, both genders were more likely to report tolerance, withdrawal, and legal problems and less likely to report hazardous use, whereas females were less likely to report continued to drink despite psychological/physical problems. Among Hispanics, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, both genders were less likely to report cut down and continued to drink despite psychological/physical problems, whereas males were more likely to report withdrawal, give up activities, role obligation failure, and legal problems. Two previous studies examined symptom criterion bias in racial/ethnic groups (Grant et al., 2007; Saha et al., 2006), but both were limited to adults 18 years and older. Grant and colleagues (2007) used comparable statistical models and found positive direct effects related to attempts to cut down drinking and negative direct effects for withdrawal symptoms among both Blacks and Hispanics. Inclusion of adolescents and variation in symptom wording in the present study, however, complicate comparisons across studies.
