Geographic isolation, compelled mobility, and adolescent risk behavior

We explore alternative hypotheses regarding the association between activity space racial composition, and risk behavior among Black-identifying urban youth. Racial isolation perspectives argue that exposure to Black-segregated neighborhoods limits access to mainstream institutions and influence, increasing participation in risk behavior (violence, delinquency, and substance/alcohol use). An alternative compelled mobility perspective argues that Black youth spend a substantial amount of time in low-proportion Black, largely white neighborhoods seeking organizational resources typically less available in segregated areas. These exposures may lead to discrimination-related strain, detachment from conventional norms, and elevated physiological stress, increasing the likelihood of risk behavior compared to Black youth who spend more time in same-race-dominated activity spaces. We test these competing hypotheses employing data from the Columbus, Ohio, USA-based Adolescent Health and Development in Context study on the geospatial exposures and both survey and ecological momentary assessment-reported behaviors of 506 Black youth aged 11–17. Contrary to the expectations of the isolation model, we find that greater exposure to residentially low-proportion Black areas is associated with an increased likelihood of risk behavior for Black males. We consider implications of findings for extant theories and data collection approaches in research examining spatial effects on adolescent risk behavior.