Evaluating Neighborhood, Social, and Genetic Influences on Precursors of Alcohol Use Risk Behavior in African American Adolescents

Kimberly S. Compton, Peter Barr, Katherine J. Karriker-Jaffe, Cristina Bares, Fazil Aliev, Brian Mustanski, Danielle Dick and Karen G. Chartier
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Kimberly S. Compton: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-9106, USA
Peter Barr: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-9106, USA
Katherine J. Karriker-Jaffe: Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608-1010, USA
Cristina Bares: School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, USA
Fazil Aliev: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-9106, USA
Brian Mustanski: Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611-3234, USA
Danielle Dick: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-9106, USA
Karen G. Chartier: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-9106, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: Background : Using a socioecological framework, we examined neighborhood and social stressors in concert with genetic risk for alcohol dependence in relation to externalizing behaviors, important precursors to alcohol-related problems. Methods : We used data from African American adolescents and their caregivers in the Gene, Environment, and Neighborhood Initiative, a subsample of the Mobile Youth and Poverty Study. Participants for the current analyses included 112 adolescents who reported ever having at least one full drink of alcohol. Empirical Bayes scores were used to estimate neighborhood-level violence and transitions. Multivariate models tested main effects and then interactions of family stressors, discrimination, and genetic risk with the neighborhood variables. Results : In the main effects model, adolescent externalizing behaviors were positively associated with greater family stressors, more racial discrimination experiences, and genetic liability, while neighborhood variables were nonsignificant. We found three significant interactions. Specifically, the joint effects of neighborhood violence and transitions and between these neighborhood variables and family stressors were significantly associated with externalizing behaviors. Conclusions : Our findings suggest genetic liability and complex interactions between neighborhood context and social stressors are important contributors that should be considered in the development of early prevention programs for adolescents who live in economically disadvantaged areas.

Keywords: adolescents; externalizing behaviors; family stressors; racial discrimination; neighborhood; genetic risk (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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