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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Lynn Agre, MPH, School of Social Work, Rutgers University, 640 Bartholomew Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, 7324453079, agre@rci.rutgers.edu

In addition to spatial analysis of disease clusters and the development of epidemiological catchment areas designed to target treatment and prevention, it is necessary to evaluate how individuals perceive the quality of their neighborhoods and the impact of their perception on their behavior in determining health and well-being. The context of environment quality may reflect how residents view their mental health and well-being in conjunction with other physical health behaviors such as substance use, and level of depressive symptoms. Indeed, residents' beliefs, attitudes and feelings about their community may influence their social conduct within that milieu. The teen years are critical in ascertaining how the role of the neighborhood contributes toward health and well-being outcomes in later-life. This study, then, examines how adolescents appraise their neighborhood and how the interplay of substance use, self-rated mastery, self-esteem and depressive symptoms promote aggressive behaviors. Using the 1998 NLSY Young Adult Survey, n = 400, average age 16.5 years, both bivariate and multivariate analyses reveal that among younger adolescent males with lower religiosity, regular alcohol use, and living in neighborhoods rated as lower quality, depressive symptoms are associated with fighting, including hitting and hurting self and others. However, strong parenting appears to offset the effect of lower neighborhood quality, depressive symptoms and alcohol use in promoting aggressive behavior. Moreover, higher maternal education moderates the relationship between depressive symptoms, increased substance use and aggressive behaviors such as fighting and hurting others, including self. Interventions need to address depression and its association with violent behavior.

Learning Objectives:

• (1) Assess adolescent mental health in relation to parenting and peer influence, in the context of neighborhoods.
• (2) Evaluate the relationship between depression and adolescent aggressive behavior in understanding how environment can influence social conduct.
• (3) Discuss strategies for intervention, that develop alternatives to violence and enhance prosocial behavior.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation