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Risk and Respectability: Unpacking South Asian Youth Substance Use Through Culture and Identity in Ontario.

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Title: Risk and Respectability: Unpacking South Asian Youth Substance Use Through Culture and Identity in Ontario.
Authors: Zaidi, Arshia U. (AUTHOR)
Source: Substance Use & Misuse. 2026, Vol. 61 Issue 8, p1204-1215. 12p.
Subjects: Compulsive behavior -- Risk factors, Substance abuse, Gender role, Audit trails, Risk assessment, Emigration & immigration, Lifestyles, Cognitive testing, Acculturation, Qualitative research, Research funding, Group identity, Control (Psychology), Culture, Affinity groups, Negotiation, Interviewing, Field notes (Science), Sex distribution, Legislation, Social norms, Judgment sampling, Emotions, Psychological adaptation, Temperance, South Asians, Motivation (Psychology), Thematic analysis, Ethics, Social attitudes, Social integration, Attitude (Psychology), Religion, Psychological stress, Research methodology, Research, Academic achievement, Psychology of college students, Theory, Data analysis software, Liberty, Human comfort, Social stigma, Vocational guidance
Geographic Terms: Ontario
Abstract: Background: South Asian youth represent one of the fastest-growing populations in Ontario; however, limited research has examined how they interpret and negotiate substance use within the province's cultural, religious, and postsecondary contexts. Existing literature often aggregates "Asian youth," obscuring important within-group differences and culturally specific meanings attached to substance use. Objectives: This study examined how South Asian university students in Ontario understand and navigate substance use in relation to cultural expectations, religious norms, peer environments, and acculturative stressors. Results: Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 11 South Asian university students and guided by Symbolic Interactionism and Acculturation Stress Theory, reflexive thematic analysis identified four interconnected processes: (1) gendered and religious expectations that structured moral boundaries; (2) motivations rooted in peer belonging, curiosity, and culturally mediated stress; (3) consequences interpreted through academic, familial, and immigration-related stakes; and (4) pathways to reduction or cessation linked to identity realignment, health practices, and fears of losing control. Substance use emerged as a socially and culturally negotiated practice rather than an individual behavior. Conclusions: Findings highlight the culturally embedded nature of substance use among South Asian university students and challenge homogenized narratives of "Asian youth." The study underscores the need for culturally responsive prevention strategies and mental health supports that account for intersecting pressures of respectability, belonging, and future mobility within Ontario's postsecondary context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Background: South Asian youth represent one of the fastest-growing populations in Ontario; however, limited research has examined how they interpret and negotiate substance use within the province's cultural, religious, and postsecondary contexts. Existing literature often aggregates "Asian youth," obscuring important within-group differences and culturally specific meanings attached to substance use. Objectives: This study examined how South Asian university students in Ontario understand and navigate substance use in relation to cultural expectations, religious norms, peer environments, and acculturative stressors. Results: Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 11 South Asian university students and guided by Symbolic Interactionism and Acculturation Stress Theory, reflexive thematic analysis identified four interconnected processes: (1) gendered and religious expectations that structured moral boundaries; (2) motivations rooted in peer belonging, curiosity, and culturally mediated stress; (3) consequences interpreted through academic, familial, and immigration-related stakes; and (4) pathways to reduction or cessation linked to identity realignment, health practices, and fears of losing control. Substance use emerged as a socially and culturally negotiated practice rather than an individual behavior. Conclusions: Findings highlight the culturally embedded nature of substance use among South Asian university students and challenge homogenized narratives of "Asian youth." The study underscores the need for culturally responsive prevention strategies and mental health supports that account for intersecting pressures of respectability, belonging, and future mobility within Ontario's postsecondary context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Substance Use & Misuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193623159
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2600643
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 1204
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Compulsive behavior -- Risk factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Substance abuse
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Audit trails
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emigration & immigration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lifestyles
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acculturation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Group identity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Control (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Culture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Affinity groups
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Negotiation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Field notes (Science)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sex distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social norms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Temperance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Asians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motivation (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitude (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Religion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of college students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Liberty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human comfort
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social stigma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocational guidance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ontario
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Risk and Respectability: Unpacking South Asian Youth Substance Use Through Culture and Identity in Ontario.
        Type: main
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              M: 07
              Text: 2026
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