RELIGIOUS INVOLVEMENT AND THE INTOXICATION TRAJECTORIES OF LOW INCOME URBAN WOMEN

Although prior research has made significant contributions to our understanding of the risk factors associated with increased alcohol consumption in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, very little is known about the resources that help residents to resist the countless circumstances and conditions that sustain these systems of alcohol abuse. Building on prior research, we use data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project, a probability sample of 2,402 lowincome women with children living in lowincome neighborhoods in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, to test whether religious involvement is protective against intoxication. Results obtained from ordered logistic regression models indicate that regular religious attendance is associated with lower levels of intoxication over two years.