Race, Neighborhoods, and Substance Use: The Role of Social Bonds

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Past empirical work finds a number of differences in patterns of adolescent substance use when considering ethno-racial identity. A host of theoretical models have been used in attempt to reveal the mechanisms driving these relationships, yet ethno-racial identity is commonly treated as an individual characteristic rather than as a social structure itself. This project aims to clarify understanding of ethnic and racial differences in substance use among adolescents by conducting separate analyses among black, non-white Hispanic, and white respondents in the Kaplan Longitudinal and Multigenerational Study (KLAMS) dataset. We explore the compatibility of two major theoretical perspectives–social disorganization and social control–in understanding adolescent substance use. In particular, the study examines the potential for social bonds to mediate the relationship between neighborhood disorder and substance use among adolescents. Findings reveal key differences in the strength of bonds to school and family between the three ethno-racial identities explored. In turn, these bonds seem to operate differently based on ethnic and racial identity in their ability to predict adolescent substance use. The study lends support to the compatibility of the social disorganization and social control perspectives, but observed differences between ethno-racial groups underscores the need for critical evaluation of traditional theoretical frameworks in criminology.

Authors

• Rusty Schnellinger, Kent State University

• Robert Peralta, University of Akron