Neighborhood Disorder and Health-Related Work Absences: Perceived Control and Neighborhood Trust as Explanatory Mechanisms

Abstract

The current research argues that people residing in disordered neighborhoods will tend not to trust their neighbors and perceive less control over life, which will in turn increase the risk of health-related work absences. Researchers also suggest that lower trust in neighbors and perceived control will strengthen the association between living in disordered neighborhoods and risk of health-related work absences. To address these questions, we examine a national study of Canadian workers gathered at the individual level in September of 2019 (N=2,524). Multinomial regression models show that perceptions of neighborhoods as disordered are associated with a greater likelihood of frequent health-related work absences. Reduced trust in neighbors and perceived control largely explain this association, but these factor do not moderate the association. This research contributes to the study of neighborhoods and health by showing that adverse health effects of disordered neighborhoods can have subsequent socioeconomic implications through increased health-related work absences.