Parenting and Adolescent
Risk Behavior in Context

This study aims to examine the associations between neighborhood residence and adolescent health risk behaviors. Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, we plan to address the following three research questions:

(1) Does neighborhood disorganization (e.g., poverty, crime) predict adolescent health risk behaviors (substance use, delinquency, and risky sexual behavior), and does family dysfunction (e.g., ineffective parenting practices, conflict) explain associations between neighborhood disorganization and adolescent health risk behaviors?

(2) Do contextual supports, including extra-familial social support and supportive institutional resources, provide a buffer against the adverse effects of neighborhood disorganization on family functioning?

(3) Do contextual supports, including neighborhood collective efficacy, extra-familial social support, and supportive institutional resources, provide a buffer against the adverse effects of family dysfunction on adolescent health risk behaviors?

Funding Sources: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Contact: Anne Martin, DrPH


Current Neighborhood/Community Projects

Completed Neighborhood/Community Projects