RISK BEHAVIOR AND PERCEPTION AMONG YOUTHS RESIDING IN URBAN PUBLIC-HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS

The scientific literature and popular media suggest that variations in housing structure and neighborhood influence risk behavior among yout hs living in low-income urban communities. To explore the importance o f these factors on early sexual intercourse, substance use, drug traff icking, and school truancy, data from a community-based survey, conduc ted in six public housing developments in a major eastern metropolis, were analysed. The survey group consisted of 300 youth aged 9 through 15 years. There were minimal differences in three potential mediators of risk behaviors (e.g., perceived social support, parenting style, an d perceived risk exposure) and in self-reported adolescent risk behavi ors among youth residing in different housing developments and between youths residing in high-rise and in low-rise structures. These findin gs do not support the hypothesis in high-rise and in low-rise structur es. These findings do not support the hypothesis that within a risk-de nse low-income environment, variations in building structure or in nei ghborhood are associated with differences in adolescent risk behaviors .