Neighborhood Predictors of Mental Health of Older Americans: Evidence from a 5-year Longitudinal Study

Adaralegbe Adeleye A,Moore Ami,Iyanda Ayodeji Emmanuel,Aroyewun Opeyemi,Okunola Oladoyin,Olawaye Ayodele,Ayeni Olumide,Adaralegbe Ngozi J,Esther Ifeoma Ezeani

doi:10.23937/2469-5858/1510122

Abstract

With increasing dependence on other people in old age, environmental resources become an important asset for older adults to experience healthy aging. Neighborhood conditions, therefore, are some of the multiple factors that contribute to the mental wellbeing of older adults. This study investigated whether and which neighborhood factors predicted depression and anxiety among American older adults followed up for over five years within the same neighborhood.

Highlights

The aging population faces physical and mental health problems in addition to social challenges
None of the neighborhood factors predicted depression following 5 years after adjusting for demographic and physical health characteristics and baseline depression, but the model significantly improved to 32.5%
The study sheds some light on the complexity of the relationship between neighborhood and mental health in older adults

Summary

Introduction

The aging population faces physical and mental health problems in addition to social challenges. Older adults when compared to their younger counterparts experience lower, but substantial rates of mental health [3]. Neighborhood conditions are some of these factors that contribute to the mental wellbeing of older adults [7,8]. Older adults are at risk of developing poor interaction with their environment due to a decline in mobility and increased dependence [9]. Limitations in mobility in combination with higher cognitive and physical decline were associated with increased dependence on the neighborhood and its resources [10,11]. With increasing dependence on other people in old age, environmental resources become an important asset for older adults to experience healthy aging. Neighborhood conditions, are some of the multiple factors that contribute to the mental wellbeing of older adults. This study investigated whether and which neighborhood factors predicted depression and anxiety among American older adults followed up for over five years within the same neighborhood

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion