Health-Compromising Behaviours Among a Multi-Ethnic Sample of Canadian Highschool Students: Risk-Enhancing Effects of Discrimination and Acculturation

This article examines whether acculturation and experiences of discrimination help to explain observed ethnic disparities in rates of three health-compromising behaviors: interpersonal violence, drinking, and cannabis use. Data were drawn from a cross- sectional survey of 3,400 high school students from Toronto, Canada, sampled in 1998-2000. Multivariate ordinary least squares and logistic regression models tested for baseline differ- ences in the health-compromising behaviors by ethnic identity. Subsequent models adjusted for control measures and introduced acculturation and discrimination measures. Results confirm that experiences of discrimination and acculturation are risk enhanc- ing, whereas active cultural retention appears to protect ethnic youth from participation in health-compromising activities.

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