Relative deprivation and risky behaviors

Abstract

Relative deprivation has been associated with lower socialand job satisfaction as well as adverse health outcomes. Using Add Health data, we examine whethera student’srelative socioeconomic status (SES)has a direct effect on substance use. We advancethe existing literature by addressing selection and simultaneity bias and by focusing on a reference group likely to exert the most influence on the respondents. We findthat relative deprivation is positively associated with alcohol consumption,drinking to intoxication, and smoking for adolescent males,but not for females. Alternative variable definitions and robustness checks confirm thesefindings.