Social Neighborhood Research Articles

Race and Ethnicity, Neighborhood Social Deprivation and Medicare Home Health Agency Quality for Persons Living With Serious Illness.

Examine the relationship between race and ethnicity and area-level social deprivation and Medicare home health care (HHC) agency quality for seriously ill older adults receiving HHC. A linear probability fixed effects model analyzed the association between patient-level predictors and HHC agency quality (star-rating), controlling for neighborhood level fixed effects. Linear mixed regression modeled the relationship between area-level social deprivation and receiving care from a high-quality HHC agency. An interaction term between race and social deprivation index quartiles examined whether racial disparities in accessing high-quality HHC agencies depended on the level of neighborhood social deprivation. The final sample consisted of 213491 Medicare beneficiaries. Reduced access to high-quality HHC was associated with identifying as Black (1.2 % point lower, P < .001), having Medicaid (5.5 % point lower, P < .0001), and living in a neighborhood with high social deprivation (6.5% point lower, P < .001). The effect of race on access to high-quality HHC persisted regardless of the level of neighborhood social deprivation. For people living with serious illness, living in areas with higher social deprivation is associated with lower-quality HHC. Patient race and ethnicity has a consistent effect reducing access to high-quality HHC agencies, regardless of neighborhood. Future research must investigate ways to improve access to high-quality HHC for racial and ethnic historically marginalized populations who are seriously ill, especially in areas of high social deprivation. This includes understanding what policies, organizational structures, or care processes impede or improve access to high-quality care.

Patient Complexity, Social Factors, and Hospitalization Outcomes at Academic and Community Hospitals

There have been limited evaluations of the patients treated at academic and community hospitals. Understanding differences between academic and community hospitals has relevance for the design of clinical models of care, remuneration for clinical services, and health professional training programs. To evaluate differences in complexity and clinical outcomes between patients admitted to general medical wards at academic and community hospitals. This retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to general medicine at 28 hospitals in Ontario, Canada, was conducted between April 2015 and December 2021. All patients admitted to or discharged from general medicine during the study period who were older than 18 years were included. Data analysis occurred between February 2023 and June 2024. Patient admission to a general medicine inpatient service at an academic or community hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics (age, sex, modified Laboratory-based Acute Physiology Score [mLAPS], discharge diagnosis, Charlson Comorbidity Index, frailty risk score, and disability), social factors (neighborhood-level markers of income, material deprivation, immigrant status, and racial and ethnic minority status) and clinical outcomes and processes (patient volume per physician, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, readmission rates, and intensive care unit [ICU] admission rates). There were 947 070 admissions, including 609 696 at 17 community hospitals (median [IQR] age, 73 [58-84] years) and 337 374 at 11 academic hospitals (median [IQR] age, 70 [56-82] years). Baseline clinical characteristics were similar at community and academic hospitals, including female sex (307 381 [50.4%] vs 168 033 [49.8%]; standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.012), median (IQR) mLAPS (21 [11-36] vs 21 [10-34]; SMD = 0.001), and Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 2 or greater (182 171 [29.9%] vs 105 502 [31.3%]; SMD = 0.038). Social characteristics, including income, education, and neighborhood proportion of racial and ethnic minority and immigrant residents were also similar. The number of unique discharge diagnoses was similar at academic and community hospitals. Patient volumes per attending physician were higher at academic hospitals (median [IQR] daily census, 20 [19-22] vs 17 [15-19]; SMD = 1.086). After multivariable regression adjusting for baseline factors, mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.96; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.17), ICU admission rate (aOR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.79) and length of stay (β = -0.001; 95% CI, -0.10 to 0.10) were not significantly different, while 7-day readmission (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.43) and 30-day readmission (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10 to 1.42) were significantly higher at academic hospitals than community hospitals. In this cohort study, patients admitted to general medicine at academic and community hospitals had similar baseline clinical characteristics and generally similar clinical outcomes, with greater readmission rates in academic hospitals. These findings suggest that the patient case mix in general internal medicine that trainees would be exposed to during their residency training at academic hospitals is largely representative of the case mix they would encounter at community hospitals, and has important implications for health services planning and funding.

Neighborhood Social Processes and Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms: The Intervening Role of Neighborhood Self-Efficacy.

Via observational data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods collected between 1994 and 2001, this study examined the degree to which neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and youth-centered institutional resources are directly associated with adolescents' depressive symptoms across time, and the mediating role of adolescents'neighborhood self-efficacy. Latent variable structural equation models were estimated among an unweighted representative sample of 1448 adolescents (59% male, mean age 15.19), across 79 neighborhoods in Chicago, to examine the direct effects of neighborhood disorder, collective efficacy, and availability of youth-centered resources at baseline (measured at timepoint 1; reported by an independent sample of Chicago adults) on adolescents' depressive symptoms (measured a timepoint 3), and the mediating effect of adolescents' neighborhood-anchored self-efficacy (measured at timepoint 2). Indirect effects were assessed using bootstrap testing. Adolescents' neighborhood self-efficacy partially mediated the effects of greater social and physical neighborhood disorder (indirect β = 0.03, 95% CI [0.008, 0.075]) and less availability of neighborhood youth-centered resources (indirect β = -0.01, 95% CI [-0.030, -0.001]) on depressive symptoms over time. Adolescents who perceived themselves to have greater neighborhood self-efficacy reported lower levels of depressive symptoms across time (β = -0.13, 95% CI [-0.24, -0.03]), as did those in neighborhoods with greater availability of youth-centered resources (β = -0.11, 95% CI [-0.19, -0.03]). Those living in neighborhoods with more disorder reported lower neighborhood self-efficacy (β = -0.24, 95% CI [-0.36, -0.11]). Neighborhood-anchored self-efficacy may be one mechanism by which adolescents internalize their neighborhood environments in ways that, over time, affect depressive symptoms. Interventions aimed at fostering community environments that nurture opportunities for youth to build efficaciousness may be promising for mitigating adolescent depression.

Neighbourhood social cohesion, loneliness and multimorbidity: Evidence from a UK longitudinal panel study.

In the context of population ageing, multimorbidity is an increasingly prevalent public health issue that has a substantial impact on both individuals and healthcare systems. Alongside the literature looking at risk factors at the individual level, there is a growing body of research examining the role of neighbourhoods in the development of multimorbidity. However, most of this work has focused on physical features of place such as air pollution and green space, while social features of place have been largely overlooked. In this study, we therefore explored neighbourhood cohesion as a social neighbourhood characteristic that could influence multimorbidity risk. Additionally, we analysed how loneliness may help to explain any relationship between neighbourhood cohesion and multimorbidity, given the emergence of loneliness as an important risk factor for multimorbidity in individual-level studies. Using Understanding Society, a UK household longitudinal panel study of approximately 40,000 households, we conducted both multilevel cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses to model these relationships. We found that there is a substantial association between greater neighbourhood cohesion and lower multimorbidity risk (odds ratio (OR) for second most cohesive quintile versus least cohesive quintile=0.75, p<.01), even after controlling for a wide range of socio-economic factors, health behaviours and physical features of place. This cross-sectional result was confirmed by longitudinal analysis of individuals with no health conditions at baseline who moved between neighbourhoods over a nine-year follow-up period. Movers who experienced a decrease in cohesion had greater odds of becoming multimorbid compared to movers who did not experience a decrease in cohesion (OR=1.68, p=.057). Controlling for loneliness substantially attenuates the odds ratios for neighbourhood cohesion, and in a mediation analysis we found a significant indirect effect of neighbourhood cohesion on multimorbidity risk acting through loneliness, suggesting it is a plausible mechanism through which the social environment influences the development of multiple long-term health conditions.

Can Improved Environments Alone Ensure Well-Being for Older Adults? Exploring Aging in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

The concept of aging in place has gained prominence in urban planning, yet few studies have specifically examined the impact of neighborhood environments on the subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults in disadvantaged areas. This study addresses this gap by comparing the SWB of residents in four low socioeconomic neighborhoods in Xi’an, China—two urban renewal areas with improved environments and two traditional neighborhoods with poor conditions. Using surveys, interviews, and statistical analysis, our study uncovers significant insights into the relationship between the built environment and SWB. Surprisingly, residents in urban renewal neighborhoods with better physical environments report lower residential satisfaction and a diminished sense of community. Our findings further suggest that perceptions of the built environment might have a greater influence on older adults’ well-being than objective conditions. In particular, perceived living convenience and affordability are two factors significantly associated with the SWB of older adults in these disadvantaged neighborhoods. These results emphasize the need for planning strategies that integrate both “hard” physical improvements and “soft” measures that enhance social connections, psychological experiences, and neighborhood identity. Additionally, our research reveals that the built environment factors influencing SWB are consistent across age groups, underscoring the potential benefits of developing age-friendly communities that serve all generations. The implications of this study provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in creating neighborhoods that effectively promote the well-being of older adults.

HSD41 Hospital AI/ML Adoption by Neighborhood Social Vulnerability

HSD41 Hospital AI/ML Adoption by Neighborhood Social Vulnerability

Over‐Representation of Extremely Wealthy Neighborhood Social Exposomes for Brain Donors within Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Brain Banks assessed by the Neighborhoods Study

Over‐Representation of Extremely Wealthy Neighborhood Social Exposomes for Brain Donors within Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Brain Banks assessed by the Neighborhoods Study

The connecting brain in context: How adolescent plasticity supports learning and development

Puberty initiates significant neurobiological changes that amplify adolescents’ responsiveness to their environment, facilitating neural adaptation through processes like synaptic pruning, myelination, and neuronal reorganization. This heightened neuroplasticity, combined with their burgeoning social curiosity and appetite for risk, propels adolescents to explore diverse new environments and forge social bonds. Such exploration can accelerate experiential learning and the formation of social networks as adolescents prepare for adult independence. This review examines the complex interplay between adolescent neuroplasticity, environmental influences, and learning processes, synthesizing findings from recent studies that illustrate how factors such as social interactions, school environments, and neighborhood contexts influence both the transient activation and enduring organization of the developing brain. We advocate for incorporating social interaction into adolescent-tailored interventions, leveraging their social plasticity to optimize learning and development during this critical phase. Going forward, we discuss the importance of longitudinal studies that employ multimodal approaches to characterize the dynamic interactions between development and environment, highlighting recent advancements in quantifying environmental impacts in studies of developmental neuroscience. Ultimately, this paper provides an updated synopsis of adolescent neuroplasticity and the environment, underscoring the potential for environmental enrichment programs to support healthy brain development and resilience at this critical development stage.

Person-Centered Approach to Understanding Psychosocial Stressor Subgroups and Cardiovascular Disease: New Perspectives From the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Study.

This study examined the longitudinal associations of psychosocial stress subgroups with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and whether social support, neighborhood cohesion, and physical activity modified these associations in MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis). Data from 6349 adults (aged: 62.2 ± 10.2 years; 52.9% women) from the MESA study with no prior CVD in 2000 to 2002 (baseline) were used in this analysis. Latent class analysis was used to specify distinct psychosocial stress subgroups based on self-reported stressors stemming from respondents' neighborhood and social environment. Adjudicated CVD events (fatal and nonfatal events) were ascertained annually through the year 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations between subgroup membership and CVD events. Five distinct psychosocial stress subgroups were identified via latent class analysis and were labeled "moderate neighborhood noise" (12.1%), "excessive neighborhood noise" (6.4%), "multiple high stressors" (6.3%), "high discrimination" (21.4%), and "optimal" (53.8%). By 2019, 1121 participants had experienced a CVD event. Membership in the high discrimination (hazard ratio [HR], 1.29 [95% CI, 1.10-1.51]) subgroup was associated with higher risk of a CVD event when adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and cardiovascular health metrics. Neither social support, neighborhood cohesion, nor physical activity modified this association (P>0.05). Distinct subgroups of individuals with high self-reported psychological distress-particularly related to discrimination and chronic stress are associated with high incident cardiovascular events.

Impact of forest management on the communication distance of an endangered tree squirrel

AbstractLong‐distance acoustic signals mediate important social interactions between animals, and the structure of the environment can influence sound transmission to affect communication distance. Anthropogenic disturbances such as fire suppression alter forest structure and can potentially affect acoustic interactions by altering sound attenuation patterns. In the spruce‐fir and mixed‐conifer forests of the Pinaleño Mountains, Arizona, USA, that harbor endangered Mount Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis), numerous historical anthropogenic disturbances have altered forest characteristics and contributed to habitat degradation and loss. In this study, we assessed how recent forest management treatments influenced the attenuation of red squirrel territorial rattle vocalizations. In June 2023–August 2023, we broadcast and recorded rattles 5.4 m above the forest floor at various distances (1, 10, 20, and 40 m) to mimic hypothetical senders and receivers. We used on‐the‐ground measurements and lidar to quantify forest structure relative to patterns of sound attenuation in 3 treatments: thinning, understory fuel reduction, and untreated control plots. Across all treatments, we found that increasing tree basal area resulted in higher attenuation, with rattles being approximately 6 dB lower in amplitude in the most dense compared to the least dense plots, equivalent to a doubling in squirrel communication distance. Additionally, rattles on untreated control plots experienced more attenuation than thinned (~3 dB) and fuel‐reduced (~1.5 dB) plots. A lidar‐derived measure of canopy structure was a better predictor of rattle attenuation than lower resolution on‐the‐ground measurements. In the short‐term, forest thinning may facilitate development of acoustic social neighborhoods that increase squirrel fitness, though alternative costs of more open forests exist. More generally, our results indicate that forest management can affect the efficacy of acoustic communication and that integration of signaling and sensory ecology with remote sensing can inform wildlife conservation.

Good Friends and Good Neighbors: Social Capital and Food Insecurity in Families with Newborns

To examine the association between social capital and household food insecurity among US families with newborns. This cross-sectional analysis used enrollment data from 881 newborn-caregiver dyads at 6 geographically-diverse US academic sites enrolled in the Greenlight Plus Trial, a comparative effectiveness trial to prevent childhood obesity. Ordinal proportional-odds models were used to characterize the associations of 2 self-reported measures of social capital: (1) caregiver social support and (2) neighborhood social cohesion, with household food insecurity after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Among 881 newborn-caregiver dyads (49% Hispanic, 23% non-Hispanic White, 17% non-Hispanic Black; 49% with annual household income <$50 000), food security was high for 75%, marginal for 9%, low for 11% and very low for 4%. In covariate-adjusted analyses, caregivers with a low social support score of 18 had 5 times the odds (aOR=5.03 95% CI=3.28-7.74) of greater food insecurity compared with caregivers with a high social support score of 30. Caregivers with a low neighborhood social cohesion score of 10 had nearly 3 times the odds (aOR=2.87 95% CI 1.61-5.11) of greater food insecurity compared with caregivers with a high neighborhood social cohesion score of 20. These associations remained robust when both social capital measures were included in one model. Caregiver social support and neighborhood social cohesion each appear to be inversely associated with food insecurity among US families with newborns. Longitudinal research is needed to determine the directionality of these relationships and whether improving social capital for families with young children reduces household food insecurity.

Association between snack intake behaviors of children and neighboring women: A population-based cross-sectional analysis with spatial regionalization

BackgroundAccumulated evidence indicates that neighborhood environments affect children's health behaviors. However, measuring neighborhood environments remains challenging because there exist strengths and weaknesses both in objective and perceived environment measures. Drawing on a recent conceptual model of how environment, perception, and behavior interact, we hypothesized that neighbors' behavioral similarities indicate the combined influence of physical and social environmental opportunities on specific behaviors. We then examined how these similarities (i.e. the behavioral tendencies of children's adult neighbors) relate to children's obesogenic dietary behaviors. MethodsWe used data for 2275 women and 821 elementary schoolchildren from a 2012–2013 population-based survey in greater Tokyo, Japan. Snack intake was defined as the total consumption of various types of snacks, estimated using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Spatial regionalization, a type of spatial clustering, was used to empirically identify segments that could effectively differentiate regional variation in women's snack intake behaviors. We conducted multiple regression analysis to assess the cross-sectional association between children's snack intake and the mean snack intake of neighborhood women, adjusting for mother's intake. ResultsA 1-g increase in the mean snack intake of neighborhood women was associated with a 0.23-g (95% confidence interval: 0.00–0.45) increase in children's intake, while a 1-g increase in mother's intake was associated with a 0.34-g (95% confidence interval: 0.26–0.41) increase in children's intake. DiscussionThe results suggest that the out-of-home physical and social neighborhood environments may have non-ignorable associations with children's dietary behaviors by offering behavioral opportunities in addition to maternal influence.

The Most Socially Vulnerable Patients Benefit the Most Following Gender Affirming Facial Surgery.

While studies have shown that access to facial feminization surgery can be restricted by financial and geographic limitations, there is a lack of information on the impact of surgery on the most vulnerable patients. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of social vulnerability and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage on patient-reported outcomes after facial feminization surgery. Patients were surveyed pre and postoperatively using the FACE-Q Aesthetics Questionnaire and geo-coded using home addresses to obtain social vulnerability index (SVI) and Area Deprivation Index scores. Two sets of Pearson correlation values were calculated: (1) between SVI scores and each of the pre and postoperative FACE-Q modules and (2) between SVI scores and differences between pre and postoperative FACE-Q modules. Univariate linear regression analyses were performed for the latter. All analyses were repeated for Area Deprivation Index scores. Twenty patients participated in this study. Postoperative facial appearance satisfaction positively correlated with total SVI (r = 0.48, P = 0.031), socioeconomic status theme (r=0.47, P=0.037), and racial and ethnic minority theme (r = 0.48, P = 0.031) scores. The difference between pre and postoperative facial appearance satisfaction positively correlated with total SVI (coefficient = 37.40, r = 0.47, P = 0.035), racial and ethnic minority theme (coefficient = 44.00, r = 0.46, P = 0.040), and housing type and transportation theme (coefficient = 46.97, r = 0.46, P = 0.042) scores. Patients impacted by greater social vulnerability disproportionally experience the greatest benefit from gender-affirming facial surgery.

The Neighborhood Environment and Handgrip Strength: Longitudinal Findings From the Health and Retirement Study.

Muscle strength, as measured by handgrip strength (HGS), is associated with physical function and mortality. Yet the environmental context that influences muscle strength is poorly understood. We evaluated built and social neighborhood characteristics and their association with muscle strength over time. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2018), linear mixed models assessed how 11 built and social neighborhood variables were associated with baseline levels and changes in HGS over time. Among the 20 045 respondents (mean age = 63 years, standard deviation = 9.7) with up to 4 HGS measures, 8455 were men and 11 590 were women. Among men, residing in a neighborhood with a 10% increment higher score on neighborhood disadvantage was associated with a ~1kg lower HGS at baseline (B = -0.96kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -1.39 to -0.53). Similarly, each 1-point increment on the physical disorder scale was associated with a -0.39kg lower (95% CI = -0.65 to -0.12) baseline HGS value. Among women, each 10% increment in neighborhood disadvantage was associated with a 0.29kg lower HGS at baseline (B = -0.29kg for each 10% increment, 95% CI = -0.46, -0.13). Each 1-unit increment in the number of neighborhood gyms at baseline was associated with a 0.50kg lower HGS (B = -0.50, 95% CI = -0.76 to -0.23). Each 1-point increment in physical disorder was associated with a -0.12kg lower (95% CI = -0.24 to -0.00) baseline HGS value. None of the neighborhood features were associated with the HGS rate of change. Findings suggest that residing in neighborhoods with greater disadvantages and physical disorders may pose challenges for HGS among middle-aged adults as they enter into older adulthood.

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.

Loneliness, Discrimination, Stress, and Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Young Adults

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to determine the associations between type 2 diabetes (T2D) or prediabetes and loneliness and related social experiences in young adults, a population at increasingly high risk of T2D. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional analysis using data from adults ages 18-35 enrolled in the All of Us Research Program. Exposures included loneliness, social support, discrimination, neighborhood social cohesion, and stress, measured by standardized surveys. The main outcome was T2D or prediabetes by self-report or linked health record. Logistic regression determined odds of T2D/prediabetes for each survey measure, adjusting for age, sex, race or ethnicity, income, and family history. Latent class analysis (LCA) evaluated clustering of social experiences. Data was collected from 2018-2022 and analyzed May 2023-June 2024. ResultsThe cohort included 14,217 young adults (28.2 ± 4.4 years; 70.3% (n=9,792) women; 64.1% (n=9,111) White, 10.6% (n=1,506) Hispanic, 5.7% (n=806) Black, 9.1% (n=1,299) multiracial). Overall, 5.5% (n=777) had either prediabetes or T2D. The two highest loneliness quartiles were associated with increased odds of prediabetes/T2D (Q3: OR 1.42 [95% CI 1.15-1.76]; Q4: 1.75 [95% CI 1.43-2.16]). Greater stress and discrimination and lower social support and neighborhood social cohesion were also associated with increased odds of prediabetes/T2D. LCA revealed three distinct phenotypes, with elevated odds of prediabetes/T2D in the two with the most adverse social profiles (OR 2.32 [95% CI 1.89-2.84] and OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.04-1.58]). ConclusionsLoneliness and related experiences are strongly associated with T2D and prediabetes in young adults. Whether these factors could be leveraged to reduce T2D risk should be investigated.

Revisiting the conceptualization of social sustainability from a health promotion perspective: a scoping review.

Both social sustainability and health promotion emphasize the development of local communities that satisfy human needs and enhance health and well-being. This scoping review aimed to identify frameworks, components, and operationalizations of social sustainability described in peer-reviewed articles and systematize the results from a health promotion perspective. Six databases were searched for relevant articles following the JBI methodology and PRISMA guidelines. Articles were included if they provided a unique framework for social sustainability, that is, a conceptual model outlining the essential components of this concept. Information concerning the components of social sustainability and their operationalizations was analyzed through a six-step narrative synthesis. The final step involved categorizing the operationalizations of social sustainability into distinct levels by employing a socio-ecological model as an analytical tool. This review identified 22 articles presenting a social sustainability framework. The frameworks covered 11 components, of which social equity, safety, and neighborhood quality were the most frequent, while only five included health and well-being. The frameworks commonly provided practical interpretations of the concept with limited theoretical considerations. Furthermore, the identified operationalizations revealed a diverse understanding of social sustainability, encompassing all levels of the socio-ecological model applied. Health promotion research can offer theoretical and empirical insights that enhance the understanding of social sustainability, especially how societal, physical, and social determinants of health and well-being interact to create socially sustainable places. Likewise, the social sustainability literature may provide valuable knowledge underscoring the importance of contextual factors of health and well-being within the field of health promotion.

Evaluation of Health Education During Covid 19 in theCity of Masvingo

This study made an evaluation of health education during COVID 19 in the City of Masvingo.The literature of the study included the background to the study, statement of the problem, major research question, sub-questions, objectives, and significance of the study, delimitations,limitations, and definition of terms. The literature reviewed in this study was drawn based on the research sub-questions which focused on the evaluation of health education during COVID 19 in the City of Masvingo. The study discusses the research design, the population, the sample and sampling procedures which were used, the research instruments and explains data presentation and analysis procedures. The research design, the instruments and the samples adopted were justified. These include the selection of research design in which the researcher considered different views of other authorities which guided the researcher to select and use both quantitative and qualitative research. The sample population consisted of fifty (50) purposive selected participants chosen in Masvingo Urban. Data collection procedures highlighted how the researcher collected data using different instruments which included a questionnaire and interviews also the advantages and disadvantages were indicated. The presentation of data was guided by the research sub questions. Data was analysed and discussed in relation to literature. The findings of the study revealed that COVID-19 is not only an individual health issue but also engages caregivers, families, extended social networks, neighbourhoods, communities, health systems and organizations and governing/political systems. Structural changes in health promotion are requisite to sustain health during the COVID-19 and future pandemics. However, the researcher recommended that campaigns should elicit the help of religious and civil society leaders for maximum effect. In addition, governments should suspend all international travel to or from the most-affected countries, and quarantine citizens who have travelled to or through those areas for at least two weeks.

Sports following and social capital in the United States: Social networks and trust

Scholarship on sports following represents a burgeoning field of inquiry in the sociology of sport, yet sport following's connections to, or ability to facilitate, social capital remains underexplored. Drawing on a contemporary nationwide survey of the United States and employing the foundational theories of social capital by which we operationalize statistical analyses using regression modeling, this study investigates the nuanced contributions of sports following to various dimensions of social capital. Our analysis reveals complex relationships of sports following to social network size, community engagement, neighborhood trust, and social network variety, highlighting sports following as a significant predictor for all our operationalized social capital measures, although negatively so for neighborhood trust. Exploring the interplay between sports following, individual characteristics, and socio-political affiliations, results underscore the powerful predictive capacity of sports following even controlling for other characteristics, highlighting strong potentiality for building social capital, although along some dimensions more than others. These findings spotlight the domain of sports following as fertile ground for further investigation into its capacity to serve as a unique facilitator of social capital on the increasingly divided American socio-cultural landscape.

The great equalizer? Mixed effects of social infrastructure on diverse encounters in cities

Casual encounters with diverse groups of people in urban spaces have been shown to foster social capital and trust, leading to higher quality of life, civic participation, and community resilience to hazards. To promote such diverse encounters and cultivate social ties, policymakers develop social infrastructure sites, such as community centers, parks, and plazas. However, their effects on the diversity of encounters, compared to baseline sites (e.g., grocery stores), have not been fully understood. In this study, we use a large-scale, privacy-enhanced mobility dataset of >120 K anonymized mobile phone users in the Boston area to evaluate the effects of social infrastructure sites on the observed frequencies of inter-income and inter-race encounters. Contrary to our intuition that all social infrastructure sites promote diverse encounters, we find the effects to be mixed and more nuanced. Overall, parks and social businesses promote more inter-income encounters, while community spaces promote more same-income encounters, but each produces opposite effects for inter-race encounters. Parks and community spaces located in low-income neighborhoods were shown to result in higher inter-income and inter-race encounters compared to ordinary sites, respectively, however, their associations were insignificant in high-income areas. These empirical results suggest that the type of social infrastructure and neighborhood traits may alter levels of diverse encounters.