An Examination of Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms and Neighborhood Disorganization from Age 21 to 39. Issue 1 (22nd September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cambron, Christopher; Kosterman, Rick; Rhew, Isaac C.; Catalano, Richard F.; Guttmannova, Katarina; Hawkins, J. David
• Is Part Of: American journal of community psychology. Volume 60:Issue 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2017-09-22
• Subjects: Neighborhood disorganization -- Alcohol Use Disorder -- Psychological distress -- Latent growth curve; Community psychology -- Periodicals; Community mental health services -- Periodicals; Community psychiatry -- Periodicals; Community Mental Health Services -- Periodicals; Community Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-0562

Abstract

Highlights: Neighborhood disorganization predicted increased severity of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) symptoms. Neighborhood disorganization predicted increased likelihood of experiencing psychological distress. Psychological distress partially mediated the association of neighborhood disorganization and AUD. Associations persisted net of important risk and protective factors for AUD. Abstract: Living in disorganized neighborhoods characterized by high levels of poverty, crime, violence, and deteriorating buildings has been associated with increased alcohol consumption and mental health problems. Data drawn from the Seattle Social Development Project ( N = 790), a theory‐driven longitudinal study originating in Seattle, WA, were used to estimate trajectories of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) symptoms from age 21 to 39. Time‐varying measures of neighborhood disorganization, psychological distress, and sociodemographic factors were associated with deviations from average AUD symptoms at each wave. Results indicated that, on average, AUD symptoms decreased as individuals got older. Living in more disorganized neighborhoods and experiencing psychological distress was associated with increased AUD symptoms after accounting for average reductions from AUD symptoms over time and time‐varying measures of relevant sociodemographic factors. Results of mediation analysis suggested that psychological distress is a mechanism by which disorganized neighborhoods increased risk of AUD from age 21 to 39.