This article advances our understanding of factors associated with patterns
and consequences of early alcohol involvement among Latino teens, with an
emphasis on how nativity may influence longitudinal relations among variabl
es including acculturation, familism, and alcohol involvement. Following a
comparative presentation of alcohol use prevalence rates, the current study
offers a culturally founded theoretical model of early adolescent drinking
. Specifically, this article extends existing model such as gateway theory
and esteem enhancement theory and explores the effects of acculturation and
acculturative stress on the intensity of alcohol use among immigrant (n =
1,051) and U.S-born (n = 968) Latino males attending middle school in South
Florida. Results from structural equation modeling suggest acculturation a
nd acculturative stress influence alcohol use primarily through the deterio
ration of Latino family values, attitudes, and familistic behaviors. Howeve
r, the relationship between acculturative stress and alcohol use differs in
important ways depending on the adolescent's birthplace. The article concl
udes with a discussion of the implications of our findings for education, p
revention treatment, and research with Latino adolescents. (C) 2000 John Wi
ley & Sons, Inc.