A multilevel analysis of neighborhood and individual effects on individual smoking and drinking in Taiwan

2007

Neighborhood Effects on Smoking and Drinking in Taiwan

Sample size: 5883 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Chuang Ying-Chih, Li Yu-Sheng, Wu Yi-Hua, Chao Hsing Jasmine

Primary Institution: Graduate Institute of Public Health, Taipei Medical University

How do neighborhood characteristics interact with individual socioeconomic status to affect smoking and drinking behaviors in Taiwan?

Neighborhood characteristics significantly influence individual smoking and drinking behaviors, with varying effects based on socioeconomic status.

Higher neighborhood social disorganization was associated with increased smoking rates for women.
Neighborhood education had a positive effect on smoking for low SES women but a negative effect for high SES women.
Low SES individuals were more affected by neighborhood characteristics than high SES individuals.

This study shows that where you live can affect how much you smoke and drink, especially if you have less money.

Data were collected from the Taiwan Social Change Survey using multilevel binomial regression models.

Potential selection bias due to non-random selection of individuals into neighborhoods.

The study lacked longitudinal neighborhood measurements and did not account for the length of time participants spent in their neighborhoods.

Participants included 5883 adults aged over 20, with a mix of genders and socioeconomic statuses across 434 neighborhoods.

p<0.05

95% confidence interval

p<0.05

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