Values, flourishing, and identity integration: Understanding alcohol and other drug use among African Australian youth

Previous research suggests Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) use by sub-Saharan African (SSA) youth who emigrate to Western cultural contexts like Australia is an indication of their acculturation and is influenced by their values. Although values are distal predictors of AOD use, the extent to which SSA Australian youth apply their values in AOD use could be a function of their psychological flourishing and Bicultural Identity Integration (BII). The aim of this study was to test a predictive model that combines values, psychological flourishing and BII to explore how the interaction of personal values and adaptive resources are related to AOD use among SSA Australian youth ( N = 196, M age = 23.7 years, range = 16 – 35 years). Participants completed an online questionnaire, and the data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. We found that conservation and self-transcendence values, which are conceptualized as collectivistic or social focus values by S. H. Schwartz (2012) negatively predicted alcohol use through the serial mediation effects of psychological flourishing and BII. At the same time, these values negatively predicted other drug use through the serial mediation effects of psychological flourishing and BII, and alcohol use. Self-enhancement (but not openness to change) positively and significantly predicted alcohol use through the serial mediation effects of psychological flourishing and BII. Self-enhancement values also positively predicted other drug use through the serial mediation effects of psychological flourishing and BII, and alcohol use. The findings support the hypothesis that collectivist values negatively predict AOD use among SSA Australian youth through their psychological flourishing and BII. The results are discussed in terms of interventions to reduce AOD-related harm among immigrant youth who are acculturating to new norms and behaviours.