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Risk behavior and perception among youths residing in urban public housing developments
Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
|March 25, 2009
Summary
Housing structure and neighborhood variations did not significantly impact adolescent risk behaviors like early sexual intercourse or substance use in low-income urban settings. The study found minimal differences across diverse housing developments and building types.
Area of Science:
- Urban sociology
- Adolescent health
- Criminology
Background:
- Existing research suggests housing and neighborhood characteristics influence youth risk behaviors in low-income urban areas.
- This study investigates the specific impact of housing structure and neighborhood on adolescent risk-taking.
- Key risk behaviors examined include early sexual intercourse, substance use, drug trafficking, and school truancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if variations in housing structure and neighborhood are associated with differences in adolescent risk behaviors.
- To explore potential mediating factors such as social support, parenting style, and perceived risk exposure.
- To test the hypothesis that environmental variations impact risk behaviors within a high-risk urban context.
Main Methods:
- A community-based survey was conducted in six public housing developments in a major eastern metropolis.
- The study included 300 participants aged 9 to 15 years.
- Data analyzed included self-reported risk behaviors and potential mediating factors.
Main Results:
- Minimal differences were observed in perceived social support, parenting style, and perceived risk exposure among youths in different housing developments.
- Self-reported adolescent risk behaviors showed no significant variations between youths in different housing developments or between high-rise and low-rise structures.
- The findings did not support the hypothesis linking housing structure or neighborhood variations to differing adolescent risk behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Within a high-risk, low-income urban environment, variations in building structure or neighborhood do not appear to be significant predictors of adolescent risk behaviors.
- Further research may be needed to identify other factors influencing these behaviors in similar populations.
- Intervention strategies may need to focus beyond physical environmental changes to address adolescent risk behaviors effectively.
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