Predictors of Adolescent Drinking and Smoking in Chicago Neighborhoods.

A substantial body of social science research has demonstrated that individual, family, and peer characteristics are associated with underage drinking and smoking, but less is know about the role of neighborhood context. This paper explores three primary research questions using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods: 1) Does adolescent drinking or smoking vary by age cohorts, gender, or race/ethnicity? 2) Are there differences in predictors of drinking versus smoking? 3) Do neighborhood characteristics predict adolescent drinking or smoking controlling for individual, family, and peer characteristics? This third question tests whether contagion or collective socialization models are relevant. Findings suggest some variation by age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Key differences in predictors of drinking versus smoking based on multivariate regression include the perception of harm, family size, and having a family member that drinks or smokes. Results are somewhat contradictory with regard to contagion and collective socialization models. Peer influence was strongly associated with adolescent drinking and smoking but not social cohesion and while neighborhood poverty was found to increase the likelihood of drinking and smoking, ethnic heterogeneity was not significantly related, and residential stability was found to increase the likelihood of engaging in these negative health behaviors. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]