Abstract
Aims: To examine the role of ethnicity and cultural identity in alcohol use and misuse in a birth cohort of over 1000 young people. Methods: Data on ethnicity, cultural identification, alcohol use, alcohol abuse/dependence (AAD), socio-economic factors and childhood adversity were gathered as part of a longitudinal study of a New Zealand birth cohort (the Christchurch Health and Development Study). Results: Those reporting M (a) over bar ori ethnicity had rates of alcohol use and AAD that were 1.47-1.63 times higher than the rates found in the non-M (a) over bar ori people. However, there was little evidence to suggest that rates of alcohol use and AAD differed according to M (a) over bar ori cultural identity. Generalized estimating equation regression analyses adjusting for socio-economic disadvantage and childhood adversity slightly reduced the magnitude of these associations, but they remained statistically significant [AAD: odds ratio = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.10; consumption: incidence rate ratio = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.13-1.52]. Conclusion: (a) M (a) over bar ori ethnicity was found to be associated with modestly increased risks of alcohol use and AAD (b) the higher rates of alcohol use and AAD among the M (a) over bar ori members of the cohort could not be explained by a combination of socio-economic factors and greater exposure to environmental factors known to influence the risk of alcohol use and misuse.