Session: Environmental Mechanisms for Substance Abuse and Adult Health: New Directions for the Seattle Social Development Project (Society for Prevention Research 22nd Annual Meeting)

Introduction: Physical health problems, including obesity, increase among those in their 30s, and substance abuse and depression remain prevalent as well. Better understanding of environmental mechanisms and the potential role of physical activity in reducing substance abuse and improving other health outcomes is needed. Further, there are substantial disparities in health outcomes by socioeconomic status. It is important to identify environmental mechanisms that can explain these disparities. This panel will present three papers addressing these research needs. The papers are from the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP), and illustrate new directions for this study by examining data from the longitudinal panel into the mid-30s for diverse health-related outcomes.

 Methods: SSDP has followed a gender-balanced, multiethnic sample of 808 from age 10 through age 35. The study investigates the role of the social environment, defined by social interactions and developmental experiences hypothesized to affect health outcomes. The social environment was assessed with self-report surveys administered approximately every 3 years since age 21. Measurement was guided by the social development model (Catalano & Hawkins, 1996). Health outcomes include body mass index (BMI), and depression and alcohol use disorder symptoms assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Of particular interest is the role of physical activity, which was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) at age 35. Examination of health disparities considers the role of educational attainment reported at age 21.

 Results and Conclusions: Papers focus on three possible etiological pathways in young adulthood: (a) the role of social developmental factors in predicting physical activity; (b) the role of physical activity in predicting alcohol use disorder; and (c) the role of environmental factors and substance use as mechanisms linking educational attainment to health outcomes. Findings suggest preliminary evidence for each of these potential pathways in adulthood, with important prevention implications. First, adult social developmental factors may be useful to consider for prevention efforts seeking to increase physical activity levels. Second, physical activity levels may be important for the prevention of alcohol use disorder symptoms. And finally, certain environmental factors (particularly access to services) may provide malleable mechanisms by which educational attainment affects health outcomes.