Does staying put protect? How length of residence shapes the neighborhood cohesion-alcohol link among adults in the United States.

Abstract

Aims: Excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of death in the United States, yet most neighborhood research on drinking focuses on adolescents and emerging adults. We examined how neighborhood cohesion and length of residency jointly relate to past-year binge drinking and weekly heavy drinking among US adults aged 25-65.

Methods: Using 2013-2018 National Health Interview Survey data (N = 78 398), we created a four-item neighborhood cohesion index (α = 0.90) assessing trust, willingness to help, shared values, and belonging. Residency was categorized as <4 years, 4-10 years, or ≥10 years. Binge drinking (≥5 drinks on one occasion) and heavy drinking (≥15 drinks for men; ≥8 for women) were modeled using survey-weighted logistic regression.

Results: Higher cohesion was positively associated with both binge (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.08-1.14) and heavy drinking (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08-1.19). Compared with residents of <4 years, those living 4-10 and ≥10 years had 11% and 13% lower odds of binge drinking. Interaction terms indicated little moderation: residency did not attenuate the cohesion-drinking link, and among ≥10-year residents, the cohesion-heavy drinking association modestly strengthened (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.26). Predicted probabilities were higher for men than women, but cohesion slopes were parallel across sexes.

Conclusion: Stronger neighborhood cohesion does not always protect working-age adults from risky drinking and may even facilitate it in long-standing communities. Interventions should blend community-building with alcohol harm reduction to prevent social ties from unintentionally promoting excessive use.