Neighborhood Social Environment Research Articles

Social and environmental determinants of sleep health disparities

Abstract Sleep is not equitable. Historically minoritized individuals have a high prevalence of sleep disorders and adverse sleep health. Research supports that social determinants of health are contributing to sleep health inequities. Further, sleep is socially patterned. Neighborhoods with high rates of crime, violence, disadvantage, pollution, inopportune light exposure, and noise, where historically minoritized individuals are most likely to live are associated with adverse sleep health and sleep disorders. Social determinants including discrimination, racism, socioeconomic status, lack of access to care are associated with adverse sleep health, particularly among minoritized individuals. While there is an abundance of evidence identifying risk factors for adverse sleep health, evidence also supports factors that promote healthy sleep. A small but growing literature supports that neighborhood social environment is associated with healthy sleep and may be avenue for addressing sleep disparities. Dr. Johnson will present epidemiologic data on the social and environmental determinants of adverse sleep health using a socioecological framework and discuss the mechanisms by which these factors are contributing to sleep disparities. The goal is to identify these factors, and how they can be utilized to address sleep health disparities.

The role of ethnic enclaves and neighborhood socioeconomic status in invasive breast cancer incidence rates among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander females in California.

Few studies have examined whether the incidence rates of invasive breast cancer among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations differ by the neighborhood social environment. Thus, we examined associations of ethnic enclave and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) with breast cancer incidence rates among AANHPI females in California. A total of 14,738 AANHPI females diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2008-2012 were identified from the California Cancer Registry. AANHPI ethnic enclaves (culturally distinct neighborhoods) and nSES were assessed at the census tract level using 2007-2011 American Community Survey data. Breast cancer age-adjusted incidence rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated for AANHPI ethnic enclave, nSES, and their joint effects. Subgroup analyses were conducted by stage of disease. The incidence rate of breast cancer among AANHPI females living in lowest ethnic enclave neighborhoods (quintile (Q)1) were 1.21 times (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.11, 1.32) that of AANHPI females living highest ethnic enclave neighborhoods (Q5). In addition, AANHPI females living in highest vs. lowest SES neighborhoods had higher incidence rates of breast cancer (Q5 vs. Q1 IRR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.40). The incidence rate of breast cancer among AANHPI females living in low ethnic enclave + high SES neighborhoods was 1.32 times (95% CI 1.25, 1.39) that of AANHPI females living in high ethnic enclave + low SES neighborhoods. Similar patterns of associations were observed for localized and advanced stage disease. For AANHPI females in California, incidence rates of breast cancer differed by nSES, ethnic enclave, when considered independently and jointly. Future studies should examine whether the impact of these neighborhood-level factors on breast cancer incidence rates differ across specific AANHPI ethnic groups and investigate the pathways through which they contribute to breast cancer incidence.

Navigating trust and health in India: the influence of social status and neighbourhood environment

BackgroundThe research on the relationship between interpersonal trust and health has primarily focused on Western contexts, with scarce attention in developing contexts. Addressing this gap, the study examines the association between interpersonal trust (both generalised and particularised) and health outcomes (self-rated health /SRH, and depression) among Indian adults, considering the moderating roles of social statuses (gender and caste) and macro-level factors like district-level income inequality.MethodsThe study draws on data from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Wave-1, collected between 2007 and 2010. This dataset provides a comprehensive overview of health outcomes, including self-rated health (SRH) and depression, socio-cultural status of adults aged 18 and above in India. Additionally, district-level data on income inequality, quantified through the Gini index, were incorporated to examine the influence of contextual socioeconomic influence on the trust-health relationship. Multilevel regression analysis with interaction effects with social statuses and income inequality at district was employed in the analysis to investigate the intricate relationship between interpersonal trust (both generalised and particularised) and health outcomes.ResultsThe study reveals that while generalised trust does not directly influence depression or SRH, particularised trust acts as a protective factor for both health outcomes. Gender-specific interaction effect shows that generalised trust reduces depression among males and improves SRH among females. Notably, caste does not significantly moderate the trust-health relationship. High district-level income inequality, however, modifies these associations: generalised trust is associated with improved SRH in areas of high inequality, whereas particularised trust correlates with increased depression in these districts.ConclusionThe findings highlight the complex dynamics between interpersonal trust, social status, and income inequality in shaping health outcomes in India. Generalised trust emerges as a potential buffer against the health-detrimental effects of income inequality, providing crucial insights for developing targeted health interventions. These results offer valuable guidance for global health policymakers and practitioners in effectively allocating development aid to enhance health outcomes, especially among the most marginalised groups.

Molecular correlates of social adversity in breast cancer.

48 Background: Neighborhood disadvantage (ND) is associated with shorter breast cancer (BCa) survival independent of individual, tumor, and treatment factors, suggesting more aggressive tumor biology in women from disadvantaged neighborhoods. This study evaluates how differential DNA methylation (DNAm), gene expression, and biologic pathways are wired with each other to delineate the regulatory landscape of ND on BCa. Methods: We leveraged 55 geocoded ER+/HER2- BCa samples from Hispanic White women enrolled in a prospective genomic-epidemiologic cohort study. Objective ND was evaluated using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and subjective ND was evaluated using the patient-reported Neighborhood Social Environment Adversity Survey and the Everyday Expanded Discrimination Survey. We analyzed the association between ND and (1) DNAm, (2) RNA transcription and miRNAs, and (3) blood concentration levels of DNAm co-factors (B12 and folate) from the same patient. To evaluate how the DNAm/expressed pathways are wired with each other to delineate the regulatory landscape of ND in these tumors, we performed correlation analyses among CpGs, genes, and miRNAs in the same topologically associated domain (TAD). We used Spearman correlation as our metric and adjusted the resulting p-values to FDR values. Results: The cohort was divided into low ND (ADI<5; 31%) and a high ND (ADI>=5; 69%). There were no significant differences between groups by age, race/ethnicity, genetic ancestry, BMI, smoking/alcohol, subtype, stage, or OncotypeDX scores. We discovered that high ND exhibits epigenetic deregulation of immune pathways, consistent with our findings of lower circulating B12 in high ND, suggesting activation of immune pathways through reduced systemic availability of methyl donors. RNA-seq identified higher tumor infiltration of immune cells in patients from high ND (e.g., Interferon alpha and gamma responses and inflammatory responses) consistent with aggressive biology. Estrogen response genes were downregulated suggesting that patients from high ND may develop estrogen-resistant tumors. Higher subjective ND scores discovered epigenetic changes on cell adhesion and calcium signaling genes, along with gene expression of E2F targets and cell cycle’s G2M checkpoint, indicative of a more proliferative/stemness signature. TAD analysis discovered significant developmental, immune, and signaling pathways when correlating DNAm with gene expression (e.g., estrogen response and EMT). Conclusions: In this multi-omic matched cohort, we discovered differentially methylated/expressed pathways, consistent with aggressive biology, wired with each other to identify a novel regulatory landscape of ND on BCa. These findings can inform interventions such as improved access to healthy nutrition (B12) in ND/food deserts or targeted stress-reduction interventions based on our survey findings to ultimately reverse aggressive tumor biology and reduce BCa disparities by ND.

Understanding the association between neighborhoods and adolescent sleep: Evidence from Add Health

IntroductionResearch suggests that perceived neighborhood social environments (PNSE) may contribute to gender and race/ethnicity-based sleep disparities. Our study aimed to examine associations between PNSE factors and adolescents’ sleep patterns. As a secondary aim, we examined how gender and race/ethnic groups might moderate these associations. MethodData came from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 5158; mean age=15.34 years). Four self-reported sleep outcomes were created: 1) sleep duration (hours/night), 2) short sleep (≥8 h [reference] vs <8 h), 3) parental set bedtime (10:00PM/earlier [reference] vs by 11:00PM vs by/after 12:00AM), and 4) sleep satisfaction (enough sleep [reference] vs not enough sleep). PNSE included total scores for contentedness, social cohesion, and safety. Weighted linear and generalized logistic regressions were used to examine the relationships between each PNSE factor and sleep outcomes, adjusting for covariates. Associations were stratified by gender and race/ethnicity, separately. ResultsNeighborhood contentedness was associated with longer sleep duration and lower odds of short sleep, parental set bedtime by/after 12:00AM, and not enough sleep. Neighborhood social cohesion was related to lower odds of a parental set bedtime by/after 12:00AM. Neighborhood safety was related to lower odds of short sleep and not enough sleep. Gender and race/ethnic-specific results were mixed. ConclusionPositive perceptions of neighborhood social environments served as a protective factor against adverse sleep outcomes among adolescents. Efforts to improve adolescent sleep should consider the role of the neighborhood social context, gender, and racial and ethnic groups.

Abstract P362: The Associations of Neighborhood Social and Built Environments with Ambulatory Blood Pressures in Young Adults of the Georgia Stress and Heart Cohort

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is an assessment method in which BP measurements are taken at regular intervals when individuals are awake and asleep, during a typical 24-hour period. Thus, ABPM is an accurate and effective way to measure BP. Neighborhood social and built environments play an important role in health, which were previously associated with cardiovascular risk factors. However, the effects of neighborhood social and built environments on ABPM is understudied, particularly among young adults and African Americans. The current study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional associations between neighborhood social and built environments and ABPM in our Georgia Stress and Heart Cohort consisting of 543 participants, aged 29.1 ± 3.6 years, 49.7% African American and 51.2% female. There were found to be consistent positive associations of neighborhood social and built environments with 24-hour systolic BP (SBP), 24-hour diastolic BP (DBP), daytime SBP, daytime DBP, nighttime SBP, and nighttime DBP ( p ≤0.01, respectively), after the adjustment for age, race and sex. Neighborhood factors such as Median Household Income and College Graduation held the negative associations with measurements of 24-hour SBP, 24-hour DBP daytime SBP, daytime DBP, nighttime SBP, nighttime DBP, and 24-hour SBP ( p ≤0.01, respectively). This study is one of the first to report the relationship between neighborhood social and built environments and ABP, particularly in young adults and African Americans residing in the US southeastern region. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to further support the findings of the current study.

Family Structure, Social Capital, Neighbourhoods Environment and Health Behaviors for the Rural and Urban Chinese

Objectives: Improving health behavior like mental health is much needed for healthy aging and is commonly required among all age groups and family members. Such prolific results are reasonably possible by investigating the functional and effective role of the family structure, neighboring environment, and social Capital. However, limited research studies in the Chinese regional setting on the stated domain of interest were found while completely missing the role of life satisfaction as a mediating variable between Family structure, social Capital, neighborhood health, and mental health. Methods: Addressing such literature backdrop is the key concern of the present research for which primary data was focused using different methodological approaches. Results: The outcomes demonstrate that family structure, social Capital, and two components of the neighborhood environment, like natural and social environment, positively related to the mental health of the urban and rural Chinese coming from age groups 20 to above 50 years. Conclusion: The partial mediating effect of life satisfaction is between the family structure, mental health, and the social environment and mental health.

Contributions of neighborhood physical and social environments to racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes in California: A mediation analysis

BackgroundRacially minoritized populations experience higher rates of adverse birth outcomes than White populations in the U.S. We estimated the mediating effect of neighborhood social and physical environments on disparities in adverse birth outcomes in California. MethodWe used birthing parent's residential address for California live birth records from 2019 to estimate census block group Area Deprivation Index and census tract level measures of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), drinking water contamination, tree canopy coverage, as a measure of greenspace, potential heat vulnerability, and noise. We performed mediation analysis to assess whether neighborhood factors explain racial/ethnic disparities in preterm birth (PTB) and term-birth low birth weight (TLBW) comparing Black, Latinx, and Asian with White births after controlling for individual-level factors. ResultsBlack, Latinx, and Asian parents had PTB rates that were 67%, 36%, and 11% higher, and TLBW rates that were 150%, 38%, and 81% higher than Whites. Neighborhood deprivation contributed 7% (95% CI: 3%, 11%) to the Black-White and 9% (95% CI: 6%, 12%) to the Latinx-White disparity in PTB, and 8% (95% CI: 3%, 12%) of the Black-White and 9% (95% CI: 5%, 15%) of the Latinx-White disparity in TLBW. Drinking water contamination contributed 2% (95% CI: 1%, 4%) to the Latinx-White disparity in PTB. Lack of greenspace accounted for 7% (95% CI: 2%, 10%) of the Latinx-White PTB disparity and 7% (95% CI: 3%, 12%) of the Asian-White PTB disparity. PM2.5 contributed 11% (95% CI: 5%, 18%), drinking water contamination contributed 3% (95% CI: 1%, 7%), and potential heat vulnerability contributed 2% (95% CI: 1%, 3%) to the Latinx-White TLBW disparity. Lack of green space contributed 3% (95% CI: 1%, 6%) to the Asian-White TLBW disparity. ConclusionsOur study suggests social environments explain portions of Black/Latinx-White disparities while physical environments explain Latinx/Asian-White disparities in PTB and TLBW.

Health-related quality of life and perceptions of neighborhood physical and social environment in Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT In light of rapid global urbanization and development, planners have become more concerned with the quality of life in cities. However, the perceptual connections between the built environment and resident well-being deserve more systematic attention. This study investigates the relationship between the perceived physical and social features of the neighborhood environment and the health-related quality of life for 393 adult residents in Tehran, Iran. A questionnaire was developed to examine participants’ perceptions of neighborhood social and physical factors, along with the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life – Brief Form (WHOQOL – BREF) to measure their health-related quality of life. Using factor analysis, correlations, and multiple linear regressions, the findings suggest that all subcomponents of the physical environment (accessibility, amenity, and legibility) and social environment (participation, sense of community, and satisfaction) impact psychological, social relationships, and environmental health, but that amenities were most powerfully predictive of all three types of socio-environmental health.

Exposome-Wide Association Study of Body Mass Index Using a Novel Meta-Analytical Approach for Random Forest Models.

Overweight and obesity impose a considerable individual and social burden, and the urban environments might encompass factors that contribute to obesity. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research that takes into account the simultaneous interaction of multiple environmental factors. Our objective was to perform an exposome-wide association study of body mass index (BMI) in a multicohort setting of 15 studies. Studies were affiliated with the Dutch Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium (GECCO), had different population sizes (688-141,825), and covered the entire Netherlands. Ten studies contained general population samples, others focused on specific populations including people with diabetes or impaired hearing. BMI was calculated from self-reported or measured height and weight. Associations with 69 residential neighborhood environmental factors (air pollution, noise, temperature, neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic factors, food environment, drivability, and walkability) were explored. Random forest (RF) regression addressed potential nonlinear and nonadditive associations. In the absence of formal methods for multimodel inference for RF, a rank aggregation-based meta-analytic strategy was used to summarize the results across the studies. Six exposures were associated with BMI: five indicating neighborhood economic or social environments (average home values, percentage of high-income residents, average income, livability score, share of single residents) and one indicating the physical activity environment (walkability in buffer area). Living in high-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with higher livability scores was associated with lower BMI. Nonlinear associations were observed with neighborhood home values in all studies. Lower neighborhood home values were associated with higher BMI scores but only for values up to . The directions of associations were less consistent for walkability and share of single residents. Rank aggregation made it possible to flexibly combine the results from various studies, although between-study heterogeneity could not be estimated quantitatively based on RF models. Neighborhood social, economic, and physical environments had the strongest associations with BMI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13393.

Abstract PO2-09-07: Neighborhood Disadvantage and Social Adversity in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract Introduction: Neighborhood disadvantage has been shown to independently predict breast cancer specific survival even after considering access to care barriers. This effect may be explained in part by biologic influences of the neighborhood environment on breast tumors. Social genomics literatures posits that this relationship is mediated by chronic stress in the form of social adversity, i.e. disadvantaged neighborhoods may be leading to increased stress for patients which in turn may effect tumor biology. Our objective in this study was to link a measure of patient-reported neighborhood specific stress with an objective and widely used measure of neighborhood disadvantage, the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Methods: In this prospective cohort study patients with stage I-IV breast cancer completed survey questions from a validated Neighborhood Social Environment Adversity Survey (NSEAS) to measure perceived stress caused by their environment. Questions included both 5-item and 4-item Likert scale answer choices with higher scores indicating higher stress. Responses were standardized into Z-scores and composite and subscale scores were calculated by summation. Subscales included threat to safety, social cohesion, and aesthetic quality. Survey questions demonstrated good reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.72. Cohort addresses were used to determine the ADI, a continuous measure from 1-10 with higher scores indicating more disadvantage. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the relationship between ADI and NSEAS composite and subscale scores while controlling for covariates. Results: 380 breast cancer patients completed the NSEAS 61.6% were Hispanic, 17.0% were Non-Hispanic White, and 21.4% were Non-Hispanic Black. Mean age (SD) was 56 (12) years. Mean (SD) ADI was 4 (3). On univariate analysis, we found that ADI significantly predicts NSEAS composite and subscale scores (Composite β =0.63, t=5.68, p&amp;lt; 0.001; Threat to Safety β =0.18, t=5.07, p&amp;lt; 0.001; Social Cohesion β =0.19, t=3.35, p&amp;lt; 0.001; Aesthetic Quality β =0.15, t=4.20, p&amp;lt; 0.001). After controlling for age, race, ethnicity, highest education level, patient insurance, and annual household income, we found that ADI continued to significantly predict levels of NSEAS (Composite β =0.48, t=4.02, p&amp;lt; 0.001; Threat to Safety β =0.14, t=3.57, p&amp;lt; 0.001; Social Cohesion β =0.14, t=2.34, p=0.02; Aesthetic Quality β =0.12, t=3.09, p=0.002). Conclusion: In our novel study, we found that higher levels of neighborhood disadvantage independently predict higher levels of perceived neighborhood stress in breast cancer patients. Because of the known detrimental effects of both chronic stress and neighborhood disadvantage on health, understanding the specific factors of stress caused by neighborhood-level social adversity can help define targetable areas of intervention for future studies. These findings contribute to current literature on how and why neighborhood disadvantage leads to worse breast cancer outcomes. Table 1. Hierarchical Regression Illustrating Relationship between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Patient-Reported Neighborhood Social Environment Adversity Survey Scores Citation Format: Alexandra Hernandez, Maya Lubarsky, Susan Kesmodel, Michael Antoni, Neha Goel. Neighborhood Disadvantage and Social Adversity in Breast Cancer Patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-09-07.

Socioeconomic status, alcohol use and the role of social support and neighbourhood environment among individuals meeting criteria for a mental health problem: a cross-sectional study.

Indicators of socioeconomic status (SES), such as education and occupational grade, are known to be associated with alcohol use but this has not been examined among individuals with a mental health problem. This study developed latent classes of SES, their associations with alcohol use, and examined the indirect effect via social support and neighbourhood environment. A secondary analysis of the 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey was conducted among participants with a mental health problem (N = 1,436). SES classes were determined using a range of indicators. Alcohol use was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Social support and neighbourhood neighbourhood environment were measured using validated questionnaires. A latent class analysis was conducted to develop SES classes. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations of SES and alcohol use. Structural equation models tested indirect effects via social support and neighbourhood environment. A four-class model of SES was best-fitting; "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters", "intermediate/routine occupation,GCSE-level educated,mixed owner/renters", "retired, no formal education,homeowners", and "professional occupation,degree-level educated,homeowners". Compared to "professional occupation,degree-level educated, homeowners", SES classes were more likely to be non-drinkers; odds were highest for "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters" (OR = 4.96,95%CI 3.10-7.93). "Retired, no formal education,homeowners" were less likely to be hazardous drinkers (OR = 0.35,95%CI 0.20-0.59). Associations between "economically inactive,GCSE-level and lower educated,social renters" and "retired, no formal education,homeowners" and non- and harmful drinking via social support and neighbourhood environment were significant. In contrast to the alcohol harms paradox, among individuals with a mental health problem, lower SES groups were more likely to be non-drinkers while no associations with harmful drinking were found. There is also a need to examine the alcohol harms paradox in the context of the area in which they live.

The Role of Neighbourhood Social and Built Environments – Including Third Places – in Older Adults’ Social Interactions

ABSTRACT Neighbourhood environments shape older adults’ social interactions. This research conceptualises a comprehensive set of perceived and objective measures of neighbourhood social and built environments, including third places, with older adults’ social interactions. In Melbourne, based on the person-environment fit framework, mediation analyses showed that the perceived social environment measures of community spirit, participation in community groups and belonging to suburb, were the strongest predictors of social interactions, followed by a few types of perceived third places. Our findings suggest that policymakers should focus on how the objective environment characteristics are interpreted as levers when planning for changes.

The association between neighborhood social and built environment on loneliness among young adults with cancer.

Young adults with cancer (YAs, aged 18-39) are at increased risk of experiencing loneliness due to their unique challenges of coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment during young adulthood. Understanding factors that impact loneliness is critical to improving survivorship outcomes for this vulnerable YA population. Neighborhoods are key determinants of health. However, little is known about how such neighborhood characteristics are associated with loneliness among YA survivors. YA survivors (N = 181) drawn from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program completed measures of neighborhood social environment (e.g., shared values), aspects of their neighborhood built environment (e.g., access to transit, recreational activities), and loneliness. Two total scores were calculated with higher scores reflecting higher neighborhood social cohesion and higher neighborhood walkability/bikeability (i.e., built environment). Hierarchical linear regression examined associations between the social and built environment on loneliness. Higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion (β = - 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = - 0.44, - 0.11) and neighborhood walkability/bikeability (β = - 0.15, 95% CI = - 0.31, - 0.006) were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness. Findings suggest that living within a cohesive social environment with neighborhood walkability/bikeability to built environment amenities such as green space, grocery stores, and public transportation is protective against loneliness among YA survivors. More longitudinal research is necessary to understand the dynamic changes in loneliness among YA survivors living in diverse social and built environments. YA survivors may benefit from cultivating neighbor relationships and living within neighborhoods with walkability/bikeability.

State variation in neighborhood COVID-19 burden across the United States

BackgroundA lack of fine, spatially-resolute case data for the U.S. has prevented the examination of how COVID-19 infection burden has been distributed across neighborhoods, a key determinant of both risk and resilience. Without more spatially resolute data, efforts to identify and mitigate the long-term fallout from COVID-19 in vulnerable communities will remain difficult to quantify and intervene on.MethodsWe leveraged spatially-referenced data from 21 states collated through the COVID Neighborhood Project to examine the distribution of COVID-19 cases across neighborhoods and states in the U.S. We also linked the COVID-19 case data with data on the neighborhood social environment from the National Neighborhood Data Archive. We then estimated correlations between neighborhood COVID-19 burden and features of the neighborhood social environment.ResultsWe find that the distribution of COVID-19 at the neighborhood-level varies within and between states. The median case count per neighborhood (coefficient of variation (CV)) in Wisconsin is 3078.52 (0.17) per 10,000 population, indicating a more homogenous distribution of COVID-19 burden, whereas in Vermont the median case count per neighborhood (CV) is 810.98 (0.84) per 10,000 population. We also find that correlations between features of the neighborhood social environment and burden vary in magnitude and direction by state.ConclusionsOur findings underscore the importance that local contexts may play when addressing the long-term social and economic fallout communities will face from COVID-19.

1 km of living area: age differences in the association between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health among Chinese people

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the age differences in the relationship between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health among Chinese people.Study designThis is cross-sectional study.MethodsThe participants were 2,631 residents aged 18 and above from 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). Self-rated health was reported by residents. Neighborhood environment was measured by respondents’ subjective perception of 1 km living area. Ordered logit regression models were used to examine the relationship between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health.ResultsIn summary, 42.08% were classified as young adults, and 57.92% were classified as middle-aged and older adults. Young adults with higher perception of neighborhood social environment were more likely to perceive good health. Neighborhood built environment was significantly associated with self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults.ConclusionThe neighborhood environment is an important predictor of the health of its residents. Neighborhood environmental modifications should be tailored to meet the needs of different age groups, promoting health equity.

The Role of the Perceived Neighborhood Social Environment on Adolescent Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity: Findings from Add Health.

Few studies have examined the role of perceived neighborhood characteristics such as neighborhood safety, social cohesion, and contentedness on sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) among adolescents. Furthermore, no studies have investigated how these associations are moderated by gender and race. This study aimed to examine the associations of the perceived neighborhood social environment with (SB) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Data from 6504 adolescents (aged 15.4 ± 0.03 years) who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was used. SB and PA were considered continuously and dichotomously. PNSE variables include safety, social cohesion, and contentedness, where higher values of PNSE indicate a more favorable neighborhood perception. Weighted linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the association of PNSE with continuous total SB (hours/week) and MVPA (bouts/week), and binary excessive SB (14h/week) and meeting MVPA guidelines (≥ 5 bouts/week), respectively. Associations were stratified by gender and race to test moderation effects. Models were adjusted for demographic, health, parental, and neighborhood covariates. This study found that neighborhood safety and contentedness were negatively associated with SB, whereas neighborhood social cohesion and contentedness were positively associated with PA. Gender-specific and race-specific results remained somewhat consistent with overall findings; however, neighborhood safety was not associated with SB among female and non-White adolescents, respectively. Similarly, neighborhood safety and contentedness were not associated with MVPA for non-White adolescents. Findings suggest that an adolescent's neighborhood environment, gender, and race should be considered when implementing strategies to reduce SB and increase PA.

Neighborhood determinants of sleep and the moderating role of cultural factors among native adolescents.

This study examined the association between neighborhood social environment and sleep among urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adolescents as well as the moderating role of cultural factors in this association. The analytic sample included 133 urban AI/AN adolescents (age 12-16, 57.1% female, Mage = 14.03, SDage = 1.35). Perceived neighborhood social environment included safety and cohesion. Cultural factors included AI/AN cultural identification and historical loss. Sleep duration, efficiency, and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were measured via actigraphy. Sleep disturbance was measured via a questionnaire. Greater neighborhood safety was significantly associated with lower sleep disturbance (b = -2.17, SE = 0.8, p = .008), higher sleep efficiency (b = 1.75, SE = 0.64, p = .006), and lower WASO (b = -8.60, SE = 3.34, p = .01). Neighborhood cohesion was not associated with any sleep outcomes. Cultural factors moderated the association between neighborhood social environment and sleep outcomes (p < .05). Specifically, both neighborhood safety and cohesion were associated with lower sleep disturbance, only among individuals reporting higher levels of AI/AN cultural identification. Further, neighborhood safety was associated with greater sleep efficiency and lower WASO (i.e., better sleep) only among adolescents with higher contemplation of historical loss. Findings highlight the importance of considering cultural factors in addressing sleep and health disparities. AI/AN cultural identification and a sense of historical loss may be important targets for identifying adolescents who might benefit the most from policies and interventions focused on improving the social environment in order to improve sleep and other health outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Features of the Physical and Social Neighborhood Environment and Neighborhood-Level Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia in South Carolina.

Studies are increasingly examining the relationship between the neighborhood environment and cognitive decline; yet, few have investigated associations between multiple neighborhood features and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). We investigated the relationship between neighborhood features and ADRD cumulative incidence from 2010 to 2014 in the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry (SCADR). Diagnosed ADRD cases of age were ascertained from the SCADR by ZIP code and census tract. Neighborhood features from multiple secondary sources included poverty, air pollution [particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less ()], and rurality at the census-tract level and access to healthy food, recreation facilities, and diabetes screening at the county level. In addition to using Poisson generalized linear regression to estimate ADRD incident rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), we applied integrated nested Laplace approximations and stochastic partial differential equations (INLA-SPDE) to address disparate spatial scales. We estimated associations between neighborhood features and ADRD cumulative incidence. The average annual ADRD cumulative incidence was 690 per 100,000 people per census tract (95% CI: 660, 710). The analysis was limited to 98% of census tracts with a population old (i.e., 1,081 of 1,103). The average percent of families living below the federal poverty line per census tract was 18.8%, and of census tracts were considered rural. The average percent of households with limited access to healthy food was 6.4%. In adjusted models, every ) increase of was associated with 65% higher ADRD cumulative incidence (; 95% CI: 1.30, 2.09), where at or below is considered healthy. Compared to large urban census tracts, rural and small urban tracts had 10% (; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.23) and 5% (; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.16) higher ADRD, respectively. For every percent increase of the county population with limited access to healthy food, ADRD was 2% higher (; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04). Neighborhood environment features, such as higher air pollution levels, were associated with higher neighborhood ADRD incidence. The INLA-SPDE method could have broad applicability to data collected across disparate spatial scales. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13183.

Community gardens and psychological well-being among older people in elderly housing with care services: The role of the social environment

With population aging, increasing numbers of elderly people in Japan are expected to enter aged care facilities (ACFs). Although research has shown that access to community gardens (CGs) is generally beneficial to older people's psychological well-being, the mechanisms by which the usage and quality of CGs influence the well-being of older adults in ACFs remain insufficiently studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the associations between garden factors (i.e., garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality) and older adults' psychological well-being outcomes (i.e., positive well-being and self-rated health) and to investigate the mediating role of neighborhood social environment factors (i.e., outing frequency, social participation, perceived neighborhood social cohesion, and perceived neighborhood attachment) in these associations. We conducted a questionnaire survey with 322 older adults from twelve elderly housing with care services (EHCSs) in the Tokyo metropolitan area (TMA) of Japan. The multiple regression models showed that both garden factors were positively associated with positive well-being and self-rated health. The parallel mediation models showed that higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with higher outing frequency and perceived neighborhood social cohesion and, in turn, with higher positive well-being. Moreover, higher garden visit frequency and perceived garden quality were associated with greater social participation and thereby with better self-rated health; higher perceived garden quality was also associated with higher perceived neighborhood attachment and thus with better self-rated health. Our findings elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial associations between CGs and the psychological well-being of older adults in ACFs, emphasizing the important role of cultivating friendly social environments in CGs in enhancing healthy aging.