NCJ Number
188139
Journal
Criminology Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2001 Pages: 109-143
Editor(s)
Robert J. Bursik Jr.
Date Published
February 2001
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This current study focused on the effects of perceived neighborhood disorder on individual level use of illicit drugs among adolescents and examined whether the effect of individual religiosity on drug use systematically varied across the ages of adolescence.
Abstract
This study hypothesized about the relationships among perceived neighborhood disorder, individual religiosity, and adolescent use of illicit drugs, marijuana and hard drugs; and the age varying effects of religiosity on illicit drug use. The first hypothesis perceived neighborhood disorder had positive effects on adolescent use of illicit drugs and the neighborhood effect was partly mediated by social bonding and social learning variables. The second hypothesis stated that individual religiosity partly mediated the effects of perceived neighborhood disorder on adolescent use of illicit drugs; religiosity had negative effects on adolescent use of illicit drugs independent of the social bonding and social learning variables; and religiosity negatively interacted with the neighborhood effects. Thirdly, the total and direct effects of individual religiosity on adolescent use of illicit drugs became stronger throughout the period of adolescence. Data was used from the National Youth Survey, a longitudinal study of a national probability sample of 1,725 individuals age 11 to 17 in early 1977. The study confirmed the significant effects of perceived neighborhood disorder on adolescent drug use and illustrated how the effects could be buffered by an individual adolescent's religiosity. The study demonstrated the importance of applying life course and developmental perspectives to the study of adolescent drug use by finding that the effect of religiosity on adolescent use of illicit drugs varied significantly across the years of adolescence. References