Citation

Lee JO, Jones TM, Kosterman R, Rhew IC, Lovasi GS, Hill KG, Catalano RF, Hawkins JD. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017; 174: 1-8.

Affiliation

Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: jdh@uw.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.005

PMID

28273647

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether duration of unemployment from ages 21 to 33 was associated with symptoms of alcohol use disorder, nicotine dependence disorder, and cannabis use disorder at age 39, after accounting for childhood and early adult involvement in substance use and other indicators of psychopathology. Analyses also investigated whether dimensions of perceived neighborhood characteristics during childhood and adolescence contributed to the link between unemployment and substance use disorder symptoms during adulthood. Potential gender differences were examined.

METHOD: Using life-course calendar data from a prospective longitudinal study (N=677), participants' unemployment history was measured from ages 21 to 33. General childhood and substance use-specific neighborhood characteristics were assessed at ages 10-18.

RESULTS: Findings from negative binomial regression models showed that duration of unemployment was associated with higher levels of alcohol use disorder and nicotine dependence symptoms, after adjusting for earlier involvement in substance use. Substance use-specific neighborhood factors during childhood were associated with symptoms of nicotine dependence and cannabis use disorder.

FINDINGS also suggest that the detrimental impact of unemployment on nicotine dependence symptoms was possibly stronger for women.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that unemployment may be an important risk factor for alcohol use disorder and nicotine dependence symptoms, indicating that public health efforts providing strategies to cope with unemployment, particularly for women who experience chronic unemployment, may be promising. Additionally, substance use-specific neighborhood characteristics during childhood should be considered as part of a prevention strategy to ameliorate adult nicotine and cannabis use problems.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Behavioral health; Life course; Perceived neighborhood characteristics in childhood; Substance use; Unemployment; Young adulthood