Family structure and adolescent risk-taking behavior: a comparison of Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican Americans

We use the Hispanic HANES to examine whether family structure is related to alcohol and drug use among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban American adolescents. Mexicans adolescents living in female headed households have higher rates of drinking, drug use, and overall risk-taking behaviors than those living with both parents. Puerto Ricans adolescents living in female-headed households have higher rates of overall risk-taking behaviors than those living with both parents. Family structure is unrelated to Cuban adolescent risk-taking behavior. There is no evidence that gender modifies the effect of family structure for adolescent risk-taking behaviors.