Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine changes in neighbourhood perceptions on self-rated mental health problems over time, and to explore demographic, geographic and socio-economic factors as determinants of increased or decreased anxiety and depression symptoms. We conducted a repeat cross-sectional study of individuals (N: 4480) living in the same areas of west central Scotland in 1997 and 2010. Individuals were asked to complete a questionnaire at both time-points, containing 14 questions relating to neighbourhood perceptions and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A three-level linear regression model was fitted to HADS scores and changes in neighbourhood perceptions over time; controlling for a number of individual and area-level variables. Overall, area-level mean HADS scores decreased from 1997 to 2010. When adjusted for individual and area-level variables, this decrease did not remain for HADS anxiety. Applying an overall 14-scale neighbourhood perception measure, worsening neighbourhood perceptions were associated with small increases in depression (0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.07) and anxiety (0.04, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.08) scores over time. This highlights a need for local and national policy to target areas where neighbourhood characteristics are substantially deteriorating in order to ensure the mental health of individuals does not worsen.
Highlights
IntroductionA number of studies have shown that the residential environment is associated with mental health, after taking individual characteristics into account such as age, gender and socio-economic status [1]
A number of studies have shown that the residential environment is associated with mental health, after taking individual characteristics into account such as age, gender and socio-economic status [1].Poorer mental health has been associated with a wide range of neighbourhood built-environment factors, such as: traffic hazards, lower street connectivity and land-use diversity [2,3]
Applying an overall 14-scale neighbourhood perception measure, worsening neighbourhood perceptions were associated with small increases in depression (0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.07) and anxiety (0.04, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.08) scores over time
Summary
A number of studies have shown that the residential environment is associated with mental health, after taking individual characteristics into account such as age, gender and socio-economic status [1]. Poorer mental health has been associated with a wide range of neighbourhood built-environment factors, such as: traffic hazards, lower street connectivity and land-use diversity [2,3]. Studies have shown that how people experience their local neighbourhood is associated with their mental health. Higher levels of perceived neighbourhood problems such as housing quality, amount of greenspace, land-use mix, industrial activity and traffic volume, have been linked to poorer mental health [4]. Most studies to date have been cross-sectional and few have examined if changes in neighbourhood perceptions matter for health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, within the same populations, geographical areas and over time.
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