title: The role of neighborhood disadvantage, physical disorder, and collective efficacy in adolescent alcohol use: a multilevel path analysis.
abstract: Research into the salient exposures which explain neighborhood variation in adolescent alcohol use remains inconclusive. The Social Disorganization Theory suggests that neighborhood-level disadvantage may reduce collective efficacy to control adolescent risky behavior. Collective perceptions of physical disorder are also implicated in this neighborhood pathway. Drawing on data from a nationally-representative survey of urban high school students in New Zealand, multilevel path analysis was used to estimate the direct and mediating effects of neighborhood disadvantage, physical disorder, and collective efficacy on current drinking, frequency of binge drinking, and typical quantity of alcohol consumed. The findings supported an indirect pathway from disadvantage to binge drinking and high typical quantities in young adolescents (<16 years), mediated by physical disorder and reduced collective efficacy. Collective efficacy was not associated with current drinking in young adolescents. An opposing indirect effect was evident among older adolescents (≥16 years), whereby collective efficacy was positively associated with drinking outcomes. Implications for future research are discussed.
authors: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: nicki.jackson@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Nicki
authors: N
authors: Jackson
authors: Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: s.denny@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Denny
authors: School of Pharmacy and Centre for Addiction Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: j.sheridan@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Janie
authors: J
authors: Sheridan
authors: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: jinfeng.zhao@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Jinfeng
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. Electronic address: s.ameratunga@auckland.ac.nz.
authors: Shanthi
authors: S
authors: Ameratunga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Adolescent; Alcohol; Collective efficacy; Neighborhood; Path analysis