The association of unemployment from age 21 to 33 with substance use disorder symptoms at age 39: The role of childhood neighborhood characteristics

Jungeun Olivia Lee; Tiffany M Jones; Rick Kosterman; Isaac C Rhew; Gina S Lovasi; Karl G Hill; Richard F Catalano; J David Hawkins

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.005

The association of unemployment from age 21 to 33 with substance use disorder symptoms at age 39: The role of childhood neighborhood characteristics

Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 May 1:174:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.005. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Authors

Jungeun Olivia Lee¹, Tiffany M Jones², Rick Kosterman³, Isaac C Rhew⁴, Gina S Lovasi⁵, Karl G Hill⁶, Richard F Catalano⁷, J David Hawkins⁸

Affiliations

¹ Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 669 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411, USA. Electronic address: lee363@usc.edu.
² Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: tjones03@uw.edu.
³ Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: rickk@uw.edu.
⁴ Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behaviors, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, 1100 NE 45th St., No. 300, Box 354944, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: rhew@uw.edu.
⁵ Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3600 Market Street, Room 751, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: gsl45@drexel.edu.
⁶ Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: khill@uw.edu.
⁷ Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 9725 3rd Ave NE, Suite 401, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: catalano@uw.edu.
⁸ 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.

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.

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

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Child
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Models, Statistical
Prospective Studies
Residence Characteristics*
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis*
Unemployment*
Young Adult

Abstract

MeSH terms

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