Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Relationship Between Neighborhood Context, Family Management Practices and Alcohol Use Among Urban, Multi-ethnic, Young Adolescents

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We examined relationships between alcohol-related neighborhood context, protective home and family management practices, and alcohol use among urban, racial/ethnic minority, adolescents. The sample comprised 5,655 youth who were primarily low SES (72%), African American (43%) and Hispanic (29%). Participants completed surveys in 2002–2005 (ages 11–14 years). Items assessed alcohol use, accessibility of alcohol at home and parental family management practices. Neighborhood context measures included: (1) alcohol outlet density; (2) commercial alcohol accessibility; (3) alcohol advertisement exposure; and (4) perceived neighborhood strength, reported by parents and community leaders. Structural equation modeling was used to assess direct and indirect relationships between alcohol-related neighborhood context at baseline, home alcohol access and family management practices in seventh grade, and alcohol use in eighth grade. Neighborhood strength was negatively associated with alcohol use (β = −0.078, p ≤ 0.05) and exposure to alcohol advertisements was positively associated with alcohol use (β = 0.043, p ≤ 0.05). Neighborhood strength and commercial alcohol access were associated with home alcohol access (β = 0.050, p ≤ 0.05 and β = −0.150, p ≤ 0.001, respectively) and family management practices (β = −0.061, p ≤ 0.01 and β = 0.083, p ≤ 0.001, respectively). Home alcohol access showed a positive association with alcohol use (β = 0.401, p ≤ 0.001). Tests for indirect effects suggest that home alcohol access may partially mediate the relationship between neighborhood strength and alcohol use (β = 0.025, p < 0.062). Results suggest inner-city parents respond to environmental risk, such that as neighborhood risk increases, so also do protective home and family management practices. Parent engagement in restricting alcohol access and improving family management practices may be key to preventive efforts to reduce alcohol use.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aizer, A. (2004). Home alone: Supervision after school and child behavior. Journal of Public Economics, 88, 1835–1848. doi:10.1016/S0047-2727(03)00022-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allison, K.W., Crawford, I., Leone, P.E., Trickett, E., Perez-Febles, A., Burton, L.M., et al. (1999). Adolescent substance use: Preliminary examining of school and neighborhood context. American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 111–141. doi:10.1023/A:1022879500217.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez, J.L.M., Martin, A.F., Vergeles, M.R., & Martin, A.H. (2003). Substance use in adolescence: Importance of parental warmth and supervision. Psicothema, 15, 161–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arkes, J. (2007). Does the economy affect teenage substance use? Health Economics, 16, 19–36. doi:10.1002/hec.1132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beyers, J.M., Bates, J.E., Pettit, G.S., & Dodge, K.A. (2003). Neighborhood structure, parenting processes, and the development of youths’ externalizing behaviors: A multilevel analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 31, 35–53. doi:10.1023/A:1023018502759.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boardman, J.D., & Saint-Onge, J.M. (2005). Neighborhoods and adolescent development. Children, Youth and Environments, 15, 138–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Britt, H.R., Carlin, B.P., Toomey, T.L., & Wagenaar, A.C. (2005). Neighborhood level spatial analysis of the relationship between alcohol outlet density and criminal violence. Environmental and Ecological Statistics, 12, 411–426. doi:10.1007/s10651-005-1518-3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, S.A., Tapert, S.F., Granholm, E., & Delis, D.C. (2000). Neurocognitive functioning of adolescents: Effects of protracted alcohol use. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 24, 164–171. doi:10.1111/j.1530-0277.2000.tb04586.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chuang, Y.C., Ennett, S.T., Bauman, K.E., & Foshee, V.A. (2005). Neighborhood influences on adolescent cigarette and alcohol use: Mediating effects through parent and peer behaviors. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 46, 187–204.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, M.J., Gibbons, F.X., Gerrard, M., Pmery, E.A., & Brody, G.H. (2005). The impact of parenting on risk cognitions and risk behavior: A study of mediation and moderation in a panel of African American adolescents. Child Development, 76, 900–916. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2005.00885.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coley, R.L., Morris, J.E., & Hernandez, D. (2004). Out-of-school care and problem behavior trajectories among low-income adolescents: Individual, family and neighborhood characteristics as added risks. Child Development, 75, 948–965. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.2004.00716.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, R.L., Ellickson, P.L., McCaffrey, D., & Hambarsoomians, K. (2007). Early adolescent exposure to alcohol advertising and its relationship to underage drinking. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 40, 527–534. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.01.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, S.C., Duncan, T.E., & Strycker, L.A. (2002). A multilevel analysis of neighborhood context and youth alcohol and drug problems. Prevention Science, 3, 125–133. doi:10.1023/A:1015483317310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Flay, B.R., & Petraitis, J. (1994). The Theory of Triadic Influence: A new theory of health behavior with implications for preventive interventions. Advances in Medical Sociology, 4, 19–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forster, J.L., McGovern, P.G., Wagenaar, A.C., Wolfson, M., Perry, C.L., & Anstine, P.S. (1994). The ability of young-people to purchase alcohol without age identification in Northeastern Minnesota, USA. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 89, 699–705. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb00956.x.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Godette, D.C., Headen, S., & Ford, C.L. (2006). Windows of opportunity: Fundamental concepts for understanding alcohol-related disparities experienced by young Blacks in the United States. Prevention Science, 7, 377–387. doi:10.1007/s11121-006-0044-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruber, E., DiClemente, R.J., Anderson, M.M., & Lodico, M. (1996). Early drinking onset and its association with alcohol use and problem behavior in late adolescence. Preventive Medicine, 25, 293–300. doi:10.1006/pmed.1996.0059.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, J.D., Catalano, R.F., & Miller, J.Y. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood - implications for substance-abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 64–105. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.112.1.64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, T.D., & Angel, R.J. (2005). Neighborhood disorder, psychological distress, and heavy drinking. Social Science & Medicine, 61, 965–975. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.12.027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hingson, R., Heeren, T., Levenson, S., Jamanka, A., & Voas, R. (2002). Age of drinking onset, driving after drinking, and involvement in alcohol related motor-vehicle crashes. Accident; Analysis and Prevention, 34, 85–92. doi:10.1016/S0001-4575(01)00002-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hingson, R., Heeren, T., Winter, M.R., & Wechsler, H. (2003). Early age of first drunkenness as a factor in college students’ unplanned and unprotected sex attributable to drinking. Pediatrics, 111, 34–41. doi:10.1542/peds.111.1.34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L.T., & Bentler, P.M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indices in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingoldsby, E.M., & Shaw, D.S. (2002). Neighborhood contextual factors and early-starting antisocial pathways. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 5, 21–55. doi:10.1023/A:1014521724498.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, C., Henriksen, L., & Dickinson, D. (1999). Alcohol-specific socialization, parenting behaviors and alcohol use by children. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 60, 362–367.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, L.D., O’Malley, P., Bachman, J.G., & Schulenberg, J. (2008). Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2007. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kegler, M.C., Oman, R.F., Vesely, S.K., McLeroy, K.R., Aspy, C.B., Rodine, S., et al. (2005). Relationships among youth assets and neighborhood and community resources. Health Education & Behavior, 32, 380–397. doi:10.1177/1090198104272334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, K.J., Comello, M.L., & Hunn, L.C. (2002). Parent-child communication, perceived sanctions against drug use, and youth drug involvement. Adolescence, 37, 775–787.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kline, R.B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komro, K.A., Perry, C.L., Williams, C.L., Veblen-Mortenson, S., Forster, J., Munson, K., et al. (1999). Research and evaluation design of a community-wide program to reduce adolescent alcohol use: Project Northland Phase II. In S. Casswell (Ed.), Kettil Bruun Society thematic meeting: Fourth symposium on community action research and the prevention of alcohol and other drug problems (pp. 181–193). Auckland, New Zealand: Alcohol & Public Health Research Unit, University of Auckland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komro, K.A., Maldonado-Molina, M.M., Tobler, A.L., Bonds, J.R., & Muller, K. (2007). Effects of home access and availability of alcohol on young adolescents alcohol use. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 102, 1597–1608. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01941.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Komro, K.A., Perry, C.L., Veblen-Mortenson, S., Farbakhsh, K., Toomey, T.L., Stigler, M.H., et al. (2008). Outcomes for a randomized controlled trial of a multi-component alcohol use preventive intervention for urban youth: Project Northland Chicago. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 103, 606–618. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02110.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L.K., & Muthén, B. (2004). Mplus user’s guide (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L.K., & Muthén, B. (2007). Mplus (Version 5.1). Los Angeles, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2008). YRBSS Youth online: Comprehensive results. Retrieved September 12, 2008

  • Nelson, B.V., Patience, T.H., & MacDonald, D.C. (1999). Adolescent risk behavior and the influence of parents and education. The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, 12, 436–443.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • NIAAA. (2000). Special report to the U.S. Congress on alcohol and health. US Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Pasch, K.E., Komro, K.A., Perry, C.L., Hearst, M.O., & Farbakhsh, K. (2007). Outdoor alcohol advertising near schools: What does it advertise and how is it related to intentions and use of alcohol among young adolescents? Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 68, 587–596.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pasch, K., Komro, K.A., Perry, C.L., Hearst, M., & Farbakhsh, K. (2009). Does outdoor alcohol advertising around elementary schools vary by the ethnicity of students in the school? Ethnicity & Health, 14, 225–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paschall, M.J., Grube, J., Black, C., & Ringwalt, C.L. (2007). Is commercial alcohol availability related to adolescent alcohol sources and alcohol use? Findings from a multi-level study. The Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, 168–174. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.03.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollack, C.E., Cubbin, C., Ahn, D., & Winkleby, M. (2005). Neighbourhood deprivation and alcohol consumption: Does the availability of alcohol play a role? International Journal of Epidemiology, 34, 772–780. doi:10.1093/ije/dyi026.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rankin, B.H., & Quane, J.M. (2002). Social contexts and urban adolescent outcomes: The interrelated effects of neighborhoods, families, and peers on African-American youth. Social Problems, 49, 79–100. doi:10.1525/sp.2002.49.1.79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, J.L., & Graham, J.W. (2002). Missing data: Our view of the state of the art. Psychological Methods, 7(2), 147–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, L.M., Botvin, G.J., & Miller, N.L. (2000). Life events, neighborhood stress, psychosocial functioning, and alcohol use among urban minority youth. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 9, 19–50. doi:10.1300/J029v09n01_02.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scribner, R.A., Theall, K.R., Simonsen, N., Mason, K., Johnson, S., & DeJong, W. (2007). The contextual role of alcohol outlet density on college drinking. Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research, 31, 54A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sellstrom, E., & Bremberg, S. (2006). The significance of neighbourhood context to child and adolescent health and well-being: A systematic review of multilevel studies. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 34, 544–554. doi:10.1080/14034940600551251.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, G.K. (2003). Area deprivation and widening inequalities in US mortality, 1969–1998. American Journal of Public Health, 93, 1137–1143. doi:10.2105/AJPH.93.7.1137.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sobel, M.E. (1982). Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models. In S. Leinhardt (Ed.), Social methodology. Washington, D.C.: American Sociological Association.

  • Stacy, A.W., Zogg, J.B., Unger, J.B., & Dent, C.W. (2004). Exposure to televised alcohol ads and subsequent adolescent alcohol use. American Journal of Health Behavior, 28, 498–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2006). Results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National findings. Rockville, MD: Office of Applied Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swahn, M.H., & Hammig, B.J. (2000). Prevalence of youth access to alcohol, guns, illegal drugs, or cigarettes in the home and association with health-risk behaviors. Annals of Epidemiology, 10, 452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szapocznik, J., & Coatsworth, J.D. (1999). An ecodevelopmental framework for organizing risk and protection for drug abuse: A developmental model of risk and protection. In M. Glantz & C. R. Hartel (Eds.), Drug abuse: Origins and interventions (pp. 331–366). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tobler, A.L., Komro, K.A., & Maldonado-Molina, M. (2007). Effects of neighborhood contextual factors on young adolescent alcohol use. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.

  • Toumbourou, J.W., Stockwell, T., Neighbors, C., Marlatt, G.A., Sturge, J., & Rehm, J. (2007). Interventions to reduce harm associated with adolescent substance use. Lancet, 369, 1391–1401. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60369-9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Treno, A.J., Alaniz, M.L., & Gruenewald, P.J. (2000). The use of drinking places by gender, age and ethnic groups: An analysis of routine drinking activities. Addiction (Abingdon, England), 95, 537–551. doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2000.9545376.x.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US Census Bureau. (2000). United States Census 2000. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Census Bureau. (2003). Census Bureau releases population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin. Retrieved February 11, 20009 from http://www.census.gov/PressRelease/www/2003/cb03–16.html.

  • Wagenaar, A.C., & Perry, C.L. (1994). Community strategies for the reduction of youth drinking: Theory and application. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 4, 319–345. doi:10.1207/s15327795jra0402_8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagenaar, A.C., & Streff, F.M. (1990). Public opinion on alcohol policy. Journal of Public Health Policy, 17, 189–205. doi:10.2307/3342751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, Jr., J.M. (1999). The social ecology of addiction: Race, risk, and resilience. Pediatrics, 103, 1122–1127.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wills, T.A., Gibbons, F.X., Gerrard, M., Murry, V.M., & Brody, G.H. (2003). Family communication and religiosity related to substance use and sexual behavior in early adolescence: A test for pathways through self-control and prototype perceptions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 17, 313–323. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.17.4.312.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 AA013458; R01 AA016549), awarded to Dr. Kelli A. Komro. We thank Karen Alfano, MBA, for survey design and management of data collection; Kian Farbakhsh, M.S., for database design and management; and Cheryl Perry, Ph.D., for her overall contributions to the PNC study. We also gratefully acknowledge the participation of students, parents and community leaders in the Project Northland Chicago trial.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, Institute for Child Health Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Amy L. Tobler, Kelli A. Komro & Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 1329 SW 16th Street, Room 5130, P.O. Box 100177, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0177, USA

    Amy L. Tobler

Authors
  1. Amy L. Tobler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kelli A. Komro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mildred M. Maldonado-Molina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amy L. Tobler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tobler, A.L., Komro, K.A. & Maldonado-Molina, M.M. Relationship Between Neighborhood Context, Family Management Practices and Alcohol Use Among Urban, Multi-ethnic, Young Adolescents. Prev Sci 10, 313–324 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0133-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0133-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation