227249 Behaviors in Context: Exploring the relationship between psychological sense of community and risk behaviors among adolescents living in low-income neighborhoods in Mobile, Alabama

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Sharrelle Barber, MPH , Department of Society, Human Development, and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Arjumand Siddiqi, ScD , Health Behavior and Health Education School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
John Bolland, PhD , College of Human & Environmental Services, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Background: Risk behaviors among adolescents such as substance use and violence are important public health issues. Understanding these risk behaviors requires examination of the contexts in which these behaviors occur. One important context to consider is the neighborhood. More specifically, it is important to understand how neighborhoods characterized by economic disadvantage influence these behaviors and what factors buffer the effects of economic disadvantage and prevent adolescents from engaging in risk behaviors. This present study examines the latter, exploring the relationship between risk behaviors and sense of community among adolescents living in low-income neighborhoods in Mobile, Alabama. Methods: Twenty-six hundred adolescents who completed a 406-item survey as a part of the Mobile Youth Survey Research Study in 2006 were used in this study. Two logistic regression models—model 1 controlling for demographic variables (age, gender, and poverty status) and model 2 controlling for demographic variables and family dynamics (warmth towards mother and family structure)—were used to assess the relationship between sense of community and substance use and violent behavior. Results/Implications: In model 1, as sense of community increased, there was an increased likelihood that adolescents would engage in two of the substance use behaviors assessed—crack/cocaine and meth/amphetamines (OR: 7.02. 7.20, respectively); however there was no significant relationship in model 2. There was no significant relationship between sense of community and any of the violent behaviors assessed in either of the two models. These exploratory results suggest that sense of community may not be a salient buffer within this context.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Assess the relationship between psychological sense of community and risk behaviors among adolescents living in low-income neighborhoods

Keywords: Adolescents, Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student that has been involved in several research studies exploring neighborhood and community contextual factors and their impact on health and health behaviors. In addition I have no conflicts of interest with regard to this research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.