Health Place. 2025 Nov 3;96:103577. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103577. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Cannabis and nicotine vaping are common among adolescents and associated with mental, physical, and behavioral health issues. Neighborhood disadvantage is an important determinant of health and may impact adolescent substance use, but its impact on vaping outcomes is poorly understood. This study examined the independent and joint association of subjective (i.e., perceived) and objective (i.e., census-derived) neighborhood disadvantage with nicotine and cannabis vaping using five semi-annual waves (2022-2024) of a prospective cohort of Southern California high school students (n = 3278; baseline mean age = 15.7 years). Mixed-effects modified Poisson models examined associations of subjective neighborhood disorder scale (NDS) and objective census-derived area deprivation index (ADI) at baseline with repeated measures of current (past-30-day) cannabis and nicotine vaping over five follow-up waves, adjusting for individual-level sociodemographic factors. There was a positive weak correlation between NDS and ADI scores (Pearson’s r = 0.27). Higher NDS scores (i.e., subjective disadvantage) were positively associated with risk of cannabis (Risk Ratio, RR = 1.04, 95 %CI: 1.02-1.06) and nicotine (RR = 1.04, 95 %CI: 1.01-1.06) vaping. There was no independent association between ADI score (i.e., objective disadvantage) and vaping outcomes. Compared to youth with both low NDS and low ADI scores, risk of nicotine vaping was elevated for youth with both high NDS and high ADI scores (RR = 1.73, 95 %CI: 1.07-2.81); cannabis vaping was elevated for youth with high NDS scores and low ADI scores (RR = 2.04, 95 %CI: 1.43-2.13). Findings suggest that subjective neighborhood perceptions may be more impactful measures of neighborhood disadvantage than objective census indicators for associations with youth vaping of either cannabis or nicotine.
PMID:41187413 | DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103577
