Neighborhood Perceptions Research Articles

Predictors of Depressive Symptoms in Caregivers of Children With Poorly Controlled Asthma: Is the Neighborhood Context Important?

Children residing in low-income neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by asthma morbidity and mortality. Neighborhood violence has been explored in relationship to child morbidity and health and developmental outcomes, but less is known about the relationship of violence to caregiver mental health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of neighborhood violent crime victimization (objective and subjective measures), perceptions of community well-being and support, and depressive symptoms among a sample of primarily single female caregivers of children with uncontrolled asthma. This is a secondary analysis of baseline data obtained from a randomized controlled trial of a home-based environmental control intervention for children aged 3 to 12 years, who were primarily African American, and diagnosed with persistent, uncontrolled asthma. Results showed that both objective and subjective measures of crime, particularly in those with relatively low life stress (P < .001), limited education of the caregiver (P < .001), and fewer children (P < .01) in the household had direct associations with depressive symptoms in caregivers of children with uncontrolled asthma. Neighborhood perceptions of satisfaction and a sense of community, as well as perceptions of social support, were not associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings emphasize the need to screen for depressive symptoms, life stress, as well as both objective and subjective perceptions of neighborhood violence among caregivers of children with poorly controlled asthma. Furthermore, when providing holistic care to these caregivers, stress reduction and the provision of mental health resources are paramount.

Aging in Place Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset: A Qualitative Study of Neighborhood Engagement

The COVID-19 pandemic may fundamentally change neighborhood environments and ways of aging in place. This research aimed to investigate perceptions of and engagement in neighborhoods since the pandemic onset among online survey respondents of the COVID-19 Coping Study. We analyzed a random stratified sample of 500 open-ended responses collected July-September 2020 with quotas for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and education to match the US population aged 55+. Qualitative thematic analysis identified both increased and decreased local activity and varying levels of social interaction, support, and civic engagement. Community characteristics including age structure, socioeconomic diversity, density, housing patterns, weather, and social infrastructure were related to neighborhood perceptions. These interacted with personal characteristics such as duration of residence, living arrangements, family closeness, health status, and preferred lifestyle. Results highlight coping strategies among aging adults and their neighbors, sources of individual and community vulnerability, and opportunities to strengthen social infrastructure and resiliency within neighborhoods.

Urban vitality and seniors’ outdoor rest time in Barcelona

Immobility and lack of physical activity (PA) are global problems among seniors (≥65 years old). While being active is preferable to not doing physical activity, not leaving the house for long periods might increase mortality risk, lead to social isolation, depression, cognitive impairment, besides other health problems. However, going out of home, even to spend rest time outdoors could improve mental health, increase vitamin D intake, or provide opportunities in involvement in various experiences such as psychosocial, emotional, cultural, therapeutic, leisure or even PA, since resting forms an essential part of PA for some seniors. Previous studies show that the characteristics of individuals as well as the physical environment and how seniors perceive it affect their outdoor behavior. Aiming to contribute to the literature which mostly focuses on the relationship between characteristics of the physical environment and seniors' PA, this study explores how a specific urban characteristic: urban vitality impacts seniors' outdoor rest while considering age and gender. To do so we used GPS-tracking and accelerometer data belonging to 253 seniors residing in Barcelona, in combination with a GIS-based urban vitality index and a questionnaire for sociodemographic data and neighborhood perceptions. Results show that seniors in Barcelona tend to rest rather than being active in more vital areas. However, results differ among age and gender groups. The probability of using vital areas for outdoor rest was especially higher among older senior men (≥75 years old). This study furthers our understanding of seniors' outdoor behavior, its relationship with the built environment and how this relationship varies among individual characteristics. Results might provide valuable insights for the design of vital urban spaces that can have positive contributions to seniors' lives while strengthening the community life by promoting social inclusion of all age and gender groups in urban life.

Special Section: Perceptions of the EU in Its Eastern Neighbourhood (Part 1) Perceptions of the EU in Its Eastern Neighbourhood: 30 Years on from the Collapse of the Soviet Union

Special Section: Perceptions of the EU in Its Eastern Neighbourhood (Part 1) Perceptions of the EU in Its Eastern Neighbourhood: 30 Years on from the Collapse of the Soviet Union

Patient Access, Utilization, and Perceptions of Neighborhood and Built Environment Resources.

PurposeThere is a critical need to explore bariatric patients’ perceptions of existing neighborhood and built environment resources and supports to assist with postoperative behavior change and weight loss maintenance. The objective of this study was to survey postoperative patients to determine neighborhood food retail, fitness facility, and options for outdoor activity access, utilization, satisfaction, and perceptions of resources.Materials and MethodsA convenience sample of postoperative patients from a single academic surgical center in the USA (N = 44) completed an online survey about access, utilization, satisfaction, and safety for food retail, fitness facility, and outdoor activity options in their neighborhoods. Analysis included descriptives (frequency, percent, Chi-square), and independent samples t tests and ANOVA determined differences based on race, insurance status, geographic location, and receipt of governmental assistance programs. Open-ended questions were analyzed using summative content analysis.ResultsPatients reported the highest access to lower-cost national food retailers and fitness facilities. The most prevalent challenge in finding food products to meet patients’ goals was financial (39%). Patients’ top suggestions for fitness facilities included training staff/facilities (59%) and trainers (35%) in postoperative patient care and exercise. The highest access for outdoor activity options was for walking/running trails, city/metro parks, and sidewalks. Significant differences in access, utilization, and safety were found based on geographic location, receipt of at least one assistant program, and race.ConclusionThe development of targeted resources may benefit patients in non-suburban areas and who receive governmental assistant programs to increase safety of outdoor options and access to lower-cost food retailers and to increase utilization of lower-cost fitness facilities.Graphical abstract

Abstract 13695: Neighborhood Perception is Associated With Physical Activity and Nutrition Self-Efficacy Among African Americans: The Washington, DC Cardiovascular Health and Needs Assessment

Background: Although environmental factors influence cardiovascular (CV) health behaviors, like physical activity (PA) and nutrition, relationships between neighborhood environment (NE) perception and self-efficacy related to these health behaviors is unclear. Methods: We explored associations between NE perception and self-efficacy for performing nutrition and PA behaviors aimed at weight loss in the Washington DC CV Health and Needs Assessment, a community-engaged CV health evaluation in lower-resourced DC areas. Participants completed the PA and Nutrition Self-Efficacy (PANSE) scale (higher score=greater self-efficacy) and validated NE perception questions about violence, physical/social environment, social cohesion, and safety (higher scores=more favorable perception). Linear regression models were performed to assess relationships between each neighborhood perception construct and self-efficacy, adjusting for covariates. Results: Participants (N=78) were African Americans (AA), predominantly women (84.6%), with an age range=23-84 (mean 59.5, SD±12.1) years. Perceived neighborhood violence, physical/social environment, social cohesion, and neighborhood safety were significantly and positively associated with self-efficacy (Table 1). After adjusting for socio-demographics, neighborhood violence and safety remained significantly associated with self-efficacy, where more favorable perceptions about violence and safety associated with greater self-efficacy. Perceptions of physical/social environment were marginally associated with self-efficacy. Conclusion: Favorable NE perceptions about violence and safety are associated with increased self-efficacy for performing PA and nutrition behaviors aimed at weight loss. Interventions and public health policies tailored for improving NE perceptions may enhance self-efficacy for nutrition and PA behaviors aimed at weight loss in AAs.

The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment.

The present study adopted an ecological perspective, and examined effects of sense of belonging to multiple contexts in relation to adolescent adjustment, as well as possible differences between adolescents from intact and divorced families. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate perceptions of family, school, peer, and neighborhood belonging among 969 adolescents. Results showed that mean level differences in belonging exist based on family structure, and that levels of family and neighborhood belonging vary between post-divorce maternal and paternal households. For all adolescents, sense of belonging predicted self-reported well-being, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Belonging was found to partly explain the relation between divorce and adjustment. Improving adolescents' belonging could therefore be an important step in ensuring a better adjustment post-divorce.

Pathways between objective and perceived neighborhood factors among Black breast cancer survivors

BackgroundMounting evidence supports associations between objective neighborhood disorder, perceived neighborhood disorder, and health, yet alternative explanations involving socioeconomic and neighborhood social cohesion have been understudied. We tested pathways between objective and perceived neighborhood disorder, perceived neighborhood social cohesion, and socioeconomic factors within a longitudinal cohort.MethodsDemographic and socioeconomic information before diagnosis was obtained at interviews conducted approximately 10 months post-diagnosis from participants in the Women’s Circle of Health Follow-up Study – a cohort of breast cancer survivors self-identifying as African American or Black women (n = 310). Neighborhood perceptions were obtained during follow-up interviews conducted approximately 24 months after diagnosis. Objective neighborhood disorder was from 9 items audited across 23,276 locations using Google Street View and scored to estimate disorder values at each participant’s residential address at diagnosis. Census tract socioeconomic and demographic composition covariates were from the 2010 U.S. Census and American Community Survey. Pathways to perceived neighborhood disorder were built using structural equation modelling. Model fit was assessed from the comparative fit index and root mean square error approximation and associations were reported as standardized coefficients and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsHigher perceived neighborhood disorder was associated with higher objective neighborhood disorder (β = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.33), lower neighborhood social cohesion, and lower individual-level socioeconomic factors (final model root mean square error approximation 0.043 (90% CI: 0.013, 0.068)). Perceived neighborhood social cohesion was associated with individual-level socioeconomic factors and objective neighborhood disorder (β = − 0.11, 95% CI: − 0.24, 0.02).ConclusionObjective neighborhood disorder might be related to perceived disorder directly and indirectly through perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion.

Associations between Neighborhood Deprivation Index, Parent Perceptions and Preschooler Lifestyle Behaviors.

Parental perceptions and use of neighborhood facilities are important factors that are related to children’s dietary intake and physical activity. The aim of this study was to examine the association between neighborhood deprivation index, parents’ perceptions of their neighborhood environment, and healthy/unhealthy markers of child dietary intake, physical activity, and TV screen time. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Dublin, Ireland. The lifestyle behaviors among children and parental perceptions of their neighborhood environment were reported by the parents of 276 children aged 3–5 years by using parent-completed questionnaires. Deprivation index was assessed using the geographic information system (GIS). Data were analyzed using binary logistic regression, adjusting for socio-demographic confounders. In adjusted models, high deprivation index was associated with parental perception of the neighborhood as unsafe for walking and cycling due to crime (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04–2.43, p = 0.031) and children’s low engagement in structured physical activity (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.17–0.72, p = 0.004). Parental perceptions of an unsafe neighborhood due to heavy traffic were negatively correlated with children’s active play (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55–0.95, p = 0.022). Children whose parents reported high satisfaction with the number of local sit-in and takeaway restaurants were 41% more likely to consume confectionary/sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) weekly. In this age group, parents play an important role in children’s lifestyle behaviors; therefore, a better understanding of parents’ perceptions and their use of neighborhood facilities could contribute to creating a healthy environment for this age group.

Does the spatial distribution of social ties impact neighborhood and city attachment? Differentials among urban/rural contexts

Using social network data from the American Social Fabric Project (ASFP), this study examines how the distance to social alters may lead to different perceptions of neighborhood and city attachment among urban versus rural residents, and considers which types of relations play influential roles in shaping attachment. Overall, a key finding is that having more local neighborhood ties is positively associated with attachment at both the neighborhood level and city level, holding for any social relationship in our sample and for urban and rural environments. Notably, long distance ties are not irrelevant for attachment; rather, we see that long distance ties are associated with greater neighborhood and city attachment. Among different social relations measured, neighborhood safety ties consistently show the strongest positive relationship with neighborhood and city attachment. Surprisingly, we find that the spatial distribution of social ties appears more consequential for attachment in the rural sample than it does in the urban sample. Further, geographically dispersed ties also matter for urban versus rural settings: physically close and midrange core discussion ties are associated with weaker attachment for urban residents, whereas they do not affect rural residents’ perceptions of attachment.

The Role of Natio‐Ethno‐Cultural Difference in Narratives of Neighbourhood Change – An Arrival Area in the East German Context

AbstractThe article investigates the representations and perceptions of an arrival neighbourhood in the broader context of an urban society with a post‐socialist migration history. The study is situated in the East German city of Leipzig, which is characterised by a particular dynamic demographic development and a newly emerging plurality through immigration. By juxtaposing public media coverage about the neighbourhood and subjective perspectives of migrant homeowners and entrepreneurs, the paper approaches societal inclusions and exclusions that take effect through attributions of ‘natio‐ethno‐cultural difference’. The media and individual‐subjective narratives around the neighbourhood referring to the differentiated logics in dealing with migration reflect power hierarchies on different scales and are linked with the national East‐West relation.

코로나19 대유행기 서울시민 우울 관련 요인

This study aims to investigate correlates of depression in Seoul metropolitan citizen during COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 5,000 citizen aged 15 years old and above were drawn from the 2020 Urban Policy Indicator Survey. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed across gender. The finding indicates that women were more likely to report depression. Housing type, job, family conflict, and frequency of digital device service usage were correlated with depression in both gender. Working from home was associated with depression in men. Neighborhood conflict and perception on the society were associated with depression in women. The results suggested that emotional solidarity should be strengthened by increasing non-face-to-face contact using digital devices while maintaining physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neighborhood and Safety Perceptions: The Urban–Rural Divide in Brazil

This study investigates the determinants of self-reported perception of safety by individuals. It emphasizes the differences between urban and rural areas and analyses the effects of neighborhood perceived safety and neighborhood victimization (indirect victimization). Neighbors offer information to one another as they interact, affecting how individuals perceive safety. Data from research on victimization and justice in Brazil for 2009 are used to estimate probit models controlling for socioeconomic variables for individuals and their neighborhoods. Primary sampling units are considered for delimiting neighborhoods and the urban–rural concept is divided into four categories: urban, peri-urban, accessible rural, and remote rural. The results show that neighborhood perceived safety affects an individual’s perception of safety and that this effect decreases in rural areas. Regarding neighborhood victimization, the results were not the expected and its relationship with perceived safety and the differences between urban and rural areas could not be significantly assessed.

Epigenetic Predictors of Mortality and Neighborhood Disadvantage

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Neighborhood characteristics are strongly associated with mortality even in geographically restricted urban areas, i.e. within a single city. Accelerated epigenetic aging and mortality risk present a lens through which to quantify impacts of the neighborhood environment on health and wellness. These biomarkers may also be useful indicators of sensitivity to environmental METHODS: We examined associations between the built environment and epigenetic biomarkers of aging and mortality risk in an urban, majority Black population of Detroit, MI. Associations were adjusted for relevant confounders, evaluated in sex-stratified models, and examined for alteration by study participant's perception of their neighborhood. We examined greenspace as a possible beneficial neighborhood factor. In separate analyses, we examined if epigenetic aging biomarkers are indicators of sensitivity to air pollution in an urban population of central North Carolina. RESULTS:We observed significant associations between the built environment in each neighborhood and multiple epigenetic biomarkers of aging. These associations indicated that residence in disadvantaged neighborhoods accelerated the aging process and increased mortality risk. Associations were often stronger amongst women than men and were not impacted by individual neighborhood perception. Greenspace appeared to be a protective factor. In separate analyses, we observed that accelerated epigenetic aging increases health risks from traffic-related air pollution. CONCLUSIONS:Neighborhood environmental characteristics are determinants of longevity and this may be reflected in aging biomarkers. These biomarkers have the potential to serve as both early indicators of health deterioration and indicators of beneficial environmental interventions, such as increasing greenspace. As these biomarkers may also be indicators of elevated environmental health risks, they may be indicative of relationships between neighborhood environmental factors whereby negative built environmental factors accelerate epigenetic aging thereby increasing both mortality risks and sensitivity to other environmental exposures such as air pollution. This abstract does not necessarily represent EPA policy. KEYWORDS: built environment, epigenetics, disadvantaged neighborhoods, social determinants of health, epigenetic aging, mortality biomarkers

Neighborhood Disadvantage, Environmental Justice, Mental Well-Being and Epigenetic Markers of Biological Aging Across Urban and Rural Context

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recently neighborhood disadvantage research shows increasing evidence for a potential link of altered age-related patterns of between place and health. However, the mechanisms, including mental health and stress are less well understood and, few, if any of these studies integrate chemical pollutants into their assessment of neighborhood disadvantage. As such, it is uncertain the role that environmental exposures may play in exacerbating or mediating these associations. Further, most, if not all studies are examining associations in largely urban environments. The goals of this presentation are to examine how context, race and social determinants intersect to shape mental health, unequal environmental exposures and accelerated biological aging in diverse population. METHODS: Principal components analyses were used to generate urban and rural specific metrics of residential disadvantage and correlated with land use regression-based air pollution modeled data and drinking water source. Associations with three different epigenetic clocks (e.g. PhenoAge, GrimAge) and epigenome wide association analyses (EWAS) were conducted to identify specific mechanisms by which disadvantage correlates with disadvantage relative to environmental exposures and potential mediation by mental health. RESULTS:In a region of the United States with extreme historical neighborhood segregation and structural racism, urban metrics of neighborhood disadvantage are highly correlated with air pollution exposures (p.001). In rural context, private well water and filter use are correlated. Neighborhood stress, 3 + experiences of everyday discrimination, current smoking and body mass index are the strongest predictors of accelerated aging (p.001) in univariate analyses. In adjusted analyses, experiences of discrimination are no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS:More work is needed to better understand urban rural differences in neighborhood disadvantage. Neighborhood perceptions of disadvantage are more predictive of accelerated epigenetic “clocks” than census derived metrics, suggesting that mental health and well-being play important roles in biological aging. KEYWORDS: Methods, Environmental Justice Omics, Epigenomics

Is neighborhood satisfaction related to density perception? Promoting liveable and sustainable land use planning

While sustainable land use planning ensures land preservation through urban compactness, liveable residential environments are commonly associated with low density levels. Analyzing the relationships between density and neighborhood satisfaction (as a measure for liveability) may therefore help urban planners to offer sustainable infill projects that also guarantee liveability for the residents. Objective or subjective measures of density can be proposed. While the literature considering objective density is plentiful, the empirical work analyzing the relationships between density perception and neighborhood satisfaction is surprisingly scarce. In this study, we use a 2015 online survey in the Loire-Atlantique Département in France that provided 1,134 questionnaires, which we analyzed using a discrete choice experiment. We find that neighborhood satisfaction has no relationship to the perceived density of the built environment by individuals. What matters is peacefulness as another type of neighborhood perception. Healthcare accessibility is also valued by the residents.

Identifying neighbourhood and individual resilience profiles for cardiovascular health: a cross-sectional study of blacks living in the Atlanta metropolitan area

ObjectiveTo simultaneously examine multiple individual-level neighbourhood perceptions and psychosocial characteristics and their relationships with cardiovascular health (CVH) among blacks.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingSubjects were recruited between 2016 and 2018 via convenience sampling.Participants385 Black...

Institutional stakeholders\u2019 perceptions of a sustainable neighbourhood in metropolitan Lagos

Understanding the term urban sustainability continues to dominate discourse in the built environment as societies explore how cities can be considered sustainable. Due to the increasing rate of urbanization, scholars argue that the battle for sustainability will be won or lost in cities; recognizing the crucial role that neighbourhoods can play as building blocks of urban areas. However, while the context-specificity of the several approaches to sustainability at the neighbourhood level has been recognised, no single accepted understanding of a sustainable neighbourhood has emerged. This paper explores institutional stakeholders’ understanding of a sustainable neighbourhood using questionnaire data from metropolitan Lagos. This aligns with the critical realism philosophical stance which believes that knowledge can be sourced through the perception of people with respect to an underlying structure based on their reality. The findings show variations in the perceptions with institutions having similar responsibilities differing in their understanding of the concept. It was unclear why a single common understanding was missing and why certain elements were more emphasised than others even in institutions having similar roles. Further research should explore the mechanisms at play in influencing these understandings and how they may differ in various urban contexts in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Body Satisfaction in Early Adolescence: A Multisite Comparison

PurposeThis study assesses the relationship between unequal gender perceptions, socioecological factors, and body satisfaction among early adolescents in six urban poor settings in four countries. MethodsA cross-sectional study, part of the Global Early Adolescent Study, was conducted in Shanghai, China; Cuenca, Ecuador; Kinshasa, DRC; and three cities in Indonesia: Denpasar, Semarang, and Bandar Lampung. Bivariate and multiple linear regressions were conducted to assess the relationships between body satisfaction, perceptions of gender norms, and socioecological factors. A final sample of 7840 respondents aged between 10 and 14 years were included in the analysis. ResultsAdolescents who endorsed more traditional sex roles and traits were more likely to be satisfied with their bodies in Kinshasa and Indonesia, while only endorsement of GST was associated with body satisfaction in Shanghai. Individual factors related to body satisfaction varied by site and included perceived health status, perception of body weight, height, and growth rate. Family and neighborhood factors related to increased body satisfaction varied by site and sex and included closeness to parents, parental communication, discussing bodily changes with anyone, parental awareness, and perception of neighborhood. ConclusionThe results highlight the association between gender norms and social factors at individual, family, and neighborhood levels with body satisfaction. While associations differ significantly by site and sex, namely in perception of body weight and height, there exists commonalities that suggest body satisfaction, gender norms, and social context are intertwined.

The role of bike sharing stations in the perception of public spaces: A stated preferences analysis

The pervasiveness of bike sharing schemes around the world has the potential to bring important benefits in terms of public health and reduction of congestion and emissions. However, there can be negative externalities associated to these systems, especially in terms of misuse and degradation of public spaces. This paper explores how the presence of different shared bicycle systems and their stations affect peoplés perceptions of public spaces and neighbourhoods. For this, a stated preferences experiment was created and applied in Santiago de Chile, depicting two main scenarios (downtown and residential) with various configurations of public bicycle stations (dock-based and dockless), along other cycling facilities on a street. Survey results were used to estimate a choice model, measuring the impact of the scenario attributes on the probability of being chosen as a preferred public space. Attitudes about bikesharing, the environment and mobility in general were also measured and used to estimate latent variables and their role in public space perception. Results show bike sharing stations are overall positively perceived in terms of their capacity to improve a neighbourhood’s image, safety and accessibility, although this is more likely in compact urban contexts and for users of bikesharing. Disorganized (dockless) bicycles left on sidewalks are perceived negatively, although not enough to make individuals prefer a situation without public bicycles. The previous findings indicate that bike sharing schemes could have positive effects on the image of neighbourhoods by making them look more attractive and modern.