Ethnic identity and religiosity are related to lower alcohol use and cannabis use in Arab American college students

<i>Background:</i> Although religious and cultural factors have been related to substance use in various populations, research is needed regarding associations for Arab Americans. <i>Objectives:</i> We examined how ethnic identity and religiosity relate to the odds and frequency of alcohol and cannabis use in Arab American college students during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as differences by biological sex and Muslim upbringing <i>Methods:</i>Arab American college students (<i>N</i> = 173; M_age = 20.1, range 17–23; 60.7% female; 44.5% Christian upbringing, 43.9% Muslim upbringing) were recruited through electronic flyers and a psychology subject pool in California. Participants reported their ethnic identity affirmation (i.e. feeling positively about being Arab American) and search (i.e. learning about Arab culture), religiosity, and past-year alcohol and cannabis use <i>Results:</i> Greater ethnic identity affirmation was related to less frequent alcohol (OR = .68, <i>p</i> = .046) and cannabis use over the past year (OR = .58, <i>p</i> = .030), whereas greater ethnic identity search was related to lower odds of alcohol (OR = 0.66, <i>p</i> = .025) and cannabis use (OR = 0.68, <i>p</i> = .025). Greater ethnic identity search was also related to less frequent alcohol use among individuals from Muslim upbringings (OR = .37, <i>p</i> = .004). Greater religiosity was related to less frequent alcohol (OR = .61, <i>p</i> = .015) and cannabis use (OR = .44, <i>p</i> = .005). It was also related to lower odds of using alcohol and cannabis, with significantly stronger associations among individuals from Muslim upbringings (OR = .39, <i>p</i> = .040; OR = .40, <i>p</i> = .048) <i>Conclusion:</i> Ethnic identity and religiosity buffered substance use risk. Culturally tailored interventions and supporting cultural experiences may reduce Arab American students’ substance use.