Exploring How Interactions between Race and Social Bonds Influence Substance Use: Findings from a Predominately Black Juvenile Sample

ABSTRACT

This study uses a social bonds framework to explore the main effects of race and five social bonds (attachment to peers, attachment to parents, school commitment, activity involvement) on adolescent substance use. We also explore whether social bonds have the capacity to enhance or mitigate the effects of race on substance use. We test this question using longitudinal data from a predominately Black sample of at-risk high school students (n = 783). Findings indicate that race exerts a strong main effect on substance where Black students experienced decreases in substance use over time relative to White students. The findings also suggest that race and social bonds do not interact to influence late-adolescent substance use.

Notes

¹ SAMHSA’s list of illicit drugs includes inhalants, hallucinogens, marijuana, pain relievers, psychotherapeutics, sedatives, stimulants, tranquilizers.

² NIDA’s list of illicit drugs includes marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), inhalants, hallucinogens,

heroin, or prescription-type drugs (i.e., pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, or sedatives) that were used nonmedically.

³ Students with grade point averages below 3.0 in the eighth grade were considered at-risk for school dropout.

⁴ Multiple imputation procedures assume missing data are ‘missing at random’ (MAR).

⁵ To protect respondent confidentiality, the data only indicate whether respondents were involved in any activities and not the specific type of activity in which respondents were involved.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tierra A. James

Tierra A, James, MA,is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology at Kent State University. Her current research interests include racial/ethnic disparities in the justice system, social bonds, and the experiences of persons on death row.

Starr J. Solomon

Starr J. Solomon, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at Kent State University. Her current research interests include policing, procedural justice, legitimacy, police recruitment, and criminal decision-making.