Neighborhood and community factors related to youth conduct disorder among adolescents

Aim: An estimated 3% to 5% of youth are annually diagnosed with conduct disorder (CD), making it a pressing mental health concern. While many studies have focused on the behavioral aspects of conduct disorder, environmental and neighborhood factors have yet to be explored. The present study examined specific neighborhood and community characteristics associated with youth conduct disorder. Method: A secondary analysis of the United States’ 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health was conducted. Participants included a total of 34,601 adolescents aged 12-17 (52.3% were male and 47.7% were female). Results: Results from the final multivariate logistic regression model revealed that neighborhoods without parks or playgrounds, libraries or bookmobiles, litter or garbage on the sidewalks, vandalism, not being on to count on others in neighborhoods, and perceived child safety were all significant risk factors for youth conduct disorder. Conclusion: Implications of these findings and future strategies for preventing conduct disorder are discussed.