Abstract
Objectives: Previous research has indicated that area-level income inequality is associated with increased risk in alcohol consumption. However, few studies have been conducted among adolescents living within smaller area units, such as neighborhoods. We investigated whether neighborhood income inequality is associated with alcohol consumption among adolescents. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a sample of 1878 adolescents living in 38 neighborhoods participating in the 2008 Boston Youth Survey. Multilevel logistic regression modeling was used to determine the role of neighborhood income inequality and the odds for alcohol consumption and to determine if social cohesion and depressive symptoms were mediators. Results: In comparison to the first tertile of income inequality, or the most equal neighborhood, adolescent participants living in the second tertile (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.61) and third tertile (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.96) were more likely to have consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. Social cohesion and depressive symptoms were not observed to mediate this relationship. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the distribution of incomes within urban areas may be related to alcohol consumption among adolescents. To prevent alcohol consumption, public health practitioners should prioritize prevention efforts for adolescents living in neighborhoods with large gaps between rich and poor.
Highlights
Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the UnitedStates [1]
Findings from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior found that among high school students, during the past 30 days, 30% drank some amount of alcohol, 14% participated in binge drinking behavior, 6% drove after consuming alcohol, and 17%
We found that social cohesion or depressive symptoms were not mediators but might be predictive of alcohol consumption
Summary
Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the UnitedStates [1]. Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United. Findings from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior found that among high school students, during the past 30 days, 30% drank some amount of alcohol, 14% participated in binge drinking behavior, 6% drove after consuming alcohol, and 17%. In 2018, more than half of the US adult population drank alcohol in the past 30 days, 16% reported binge drinking, and 7% reported heavy drinking [5]. Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity, physical and sexual assault, a disruption of normal growth and sexual development, a higher risk for suicide and homicide, misuse of other drugs, and alcoholrelated car crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, and drowning, among others [6,7]
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