Self-Change from Alcohol Problems among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized Adults: A Systematic Review

Many individuals recover from alcohol problems without formal treatment (referred to here as self-change). However, self-change is understudied, especially among racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) populations. The present paper is a systematic literature review on self-change from alcohol problems among REM adults in the U.S.

Fifteen articles met criteria for inclusion. Of these, the majority (9) described the process of self-change among American Indian and Alaska Native communities and traditional healing strategies (e.g., meeting with elders or traditional healers) were commonly used. Fewer studies described self-change among Black and Latine groups, and no studies provided data on Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Multiracial groups.

Self-change among REM groups has been studied most often among American Indian and Alaska Native groups. Additional research is needed to better understand self-change among REM groups, including the influence of relevant constructs like racial identity.