Neighborhood Problems Research Articles

Social order in Sweden's politicized and vulnerable neighborhoods – The perspective of residents

AbstractThis paper draws attention to a group of neighborhoods that are the object of heated elite discussions in many European countries. Using Sweden as our case, we demonstrate the feasibility of conducting high‐quality surveys with residents in neighborhoods where large shares have an immigrant background and low socioeconomic status. Moreover, we develop a measurement that allows us to assess what residents in two of Sweden's politicized and vulnerable neighborhoods think is needed to improve the social order of their local areas. We find that residents believe that neighborhood problems are generally about a lack of social control between people and that residents are not preoccupied with culture clash issues. Overall, beliefs about what contributes to social order are structured, largely homogenous and independent of elite discourse. Based on a comparison with a nationally representative sample, we conclude that residents in vulnerable neighborhoods and residents in other neighborhoods share a similar worldview and approach to daily life, but that the need for local social order is more keenly felt in the vulnerable neighborhoods.

Development of a toolkit to improve interprofessional collaboration and integration in primary care using qualitative interviews and co-design workshops.

Introduction: Despite numerous attempts to improve interprofessional collaboration and integration in primary care, patients, care providers, researchers, and governments are still looking for tools and guidance to do this more efficiently. To address these issues, we decided to develop a generic toolkit, based on sociocracy and psychological safety principles, to guide care providers in their collaboration within and outside their practice. Finally, we reasoned that different strategies should be combined to obtain integrated primary care.
 Who is it for, and who did we involve and engage with? The results of this study and subsequently the toolkit are ‘directly’ useful for care providers, academics and policymakers. Development of the toolkit consisted of a multiyear co-development process. Data originating from 65 care providers, through 13 in-depth interviews and five focus groups were analysed and subsequently evaluated in eight co-design workshop sessions, organised with a total of 40 academics, lecturers, care providers and members of the Flemish patient association. Findings from the qualitative interviews and co-design workshops were gradually, and inductively adapted and transformed into the content for the IPCI toolkit.
 Results: Ten themes were identified: (i) awareness of the importance of interprofessional collaboration, (ii) the need for a self-assessment tool to measure team performance, (iii) preparing a team to use the toolkit, (iv) enhancing psychological safety, (v) developing and determining consultation techniques, (vi) shared decision making, (vii) developing workgroups to tackle specific (neighbourhood) problems, (viii) how to work patient-centred, (ix) how to integrate a new team member, and (x) getting ready to implement the IPCI toolkit. From these themes, we developed a generic toolkit, consisting of eight modules. 
 What is the learning for the international audience?
 What are the next steps?
 In this study, we describe the multiyear co-development process of a generic toolkit for the improvement of interprofessional collaboration and integrated care. Inspired by a mix of interventions from in and outside healthcare, a modular open toolkit was produced that includes aspects of Sociocracy, concepts such as psychological safety, a self-assessment tool and other modules concerned with meetings, decision-making, integrating new team members and person and population-centred care. Upon implementation, evaluation and further development and improvement, this compounded intervention should benefit the complex problem of interprofessional collaboration in primary care.

Dynamical systems of self-organized segregation

ABSTRACT We re-consider Schelling’s (1971) bounded neighborhood model as put into the form of a dynamical system by Haw and Hogan (2018). The aim is to determine how tolerance can prevent (or lead to) segregation. In the case of a single neighborhood, we explain the occurring bifurcation set, thereby correcting a scaling error. In the case of two neighborhoods, we correct a major error and derive a dynamical system that does satisfy the modeling assumptions made by Haw and Hogan (2020), staying as close as possible to their construction. We find that stable integration is then only possible if the populations in the two neighborhoods have the option to be in neither neighborhood. In the absence of direct movement between the neighborhoods, the problem is furthermore equivalent to independent single neighborhood problems.

An efficient model for predicting human diseases through miRNA based on multiple-types of contrastive learning.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that microRNA (miRNA) can be deeply involved in the regulatory mechanism of human microbiota, thereby inducing disease. Developing effective methods to infer potential associations between microRNAs (miRNAs) and diseases can aid early diagnosis and treatment. Recent methods utilize machine learning or deep learning to predict miRNA-disease associations (MDAs), achieving state-of-the-art performance. However, the problem of sparse neighborhoods of nodes due to lack of data has not been well solved. To this end, we propose a new model named MTCL-MDA, which integrates multiple-types of contrastive learning strategies into a graph collaborative filtering model to predict potential MDAs. The model adopts a contrastive learning strategy based on topology, which alleviates the damage to model performance caused by sparse neighborhoods. In addition, the model also adopts a semantic-based contrastive learning strategy, which not only reduces the impact of noise introduced by topology-based contrastive learning, but also enhances the semantic information of nodes. Experimental results show that our model outperforms existing models on all evaluation metrics. Case analysis shows that our model can more accurately identify potential MDA, which is of great significance for the screening and diagnosis of real-life diseases. Our data and code are publicly available at: https://github.com/Lqingquan/MTCL-MDA.

Neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black American men living in urban areas

AbstractBackgroundThe impact of the residential neighborhood on health and aging is being increasingly recognized in medical and health sciences. Specifically, research suggests that the neighborhood where people live can be a risk or protective factor for various health outcomes, including brain health. Similar to the impact of neighborhood on health and aging, sleep has been linked to subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in older adults, which may signal a cognitive trajectory to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). This study aims to evaluate whether neighborhood problems and sleep difficulties predict subjective cognitive decline in Black men living in urban areas and, thus, may be related to elevated risks for ADRD.MethodBlack American men (N = 117), age 40 – 70 years, were recruited through a targeted advert on Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTURK) over a 3‐week period. The participants responded to a survey assessing neighborhood problems, bodily symptoms, length of residence, sleep difficulties, self‐rated health, sociodemographic characteristics, and subjective cognitive decline.ResultWe performed hierarchical regression. In Model 1, only education was a significant predictor of SCD (F (3,113) = 8.52, p<.001), accounting for 18% of the variation in SCD. In Model 2, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors of SCD (F (5,111) = 13.99, p<.001) and explained 39% of the variation in SCD. In Model 3, neighborhood problems, length of residence added, socioeconomic status, education, and bodily symptoms were significant predictors and contributed 44% of the total variance in SCD (F (7,109) = 12.10, p<.001). In Model 4, sleep difficulties, length of residence, bodily symptoms, socioeconomic status, and education were significant predictors of SCD (F (9,107) = 13.59, p<.001), and accounted for 50% of the variation in SCD.ConclusionGiven that Black Americans have been found to have a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances compared to white Americans, our findings could add to inform future health interventions and policy recommendations that can address modifiable sources of poorer brain health in Black men.

Nurturing resilience in American Indian/Alaska Native preschool children: the role of cultural socialization, executive function, and neighborhood risk.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children possess numerous cultural assets, yet higher exposures to neighborhood risks (e.g., lack of housing, crime) may present barriers to healthy cognitive development, including executive function (EF). Cultural socialization may promote resilience and support children's early cognition, but this has not been adequately studied. The present study examined the effects of neighborhood risk and cultural socialization on EF for AI/AN preschool children. Parents/caregivers of 768 AI/AN preschoolers from the 2015 AI/AN Head Start Family and Community Experiences (FACES) Study rated neighborhood risk via two scales: "Neighborhood Problems" and "Environmental Conditions," and cultural socialization practices via two scales: cultural activities and tribal language activities. Children's EF was measured directly using the Pencil Tap Task and the Leiter-R attention subscale. Families perceived neighborhood risks as relatively low, and overall risk did not predict children's EF. However, higher average language socialization was significantly related to higher EF, as were two specific language activities (encouraging children to learn their tribal language, making sure children heard their tribal language) and two cultural activities (playing AI/AN games, participating in tribal ceremonies), controlling for neighborhood risk. Findings suggest some aspects of cultural socialization may promote resilience among AI/AN preschoolers by supporting early EF. Mechanisms may include increased spiritual, social, and cultural connections, and practice with EF skills during cultural games. Future research should partner with AI/AN communities to investigate culturally grounded EF interventions and reevaluate measures of neighborhood risk to promote resilience and connectedness for AI/AN children.

GIS, satellite image and risks in urban and Peri-urban areas; methodological aspects

Evoking the risk, even in urban areas, brings us back almost mechanically to the risks of flooding, or even silting up in certain regions. However, there are many other risks in cities that are still little or no explored using GIS solutions. We will mention in particular the problems encountered in the outskirts of cities and so-called sensitive areas, but also those due to the very configuration of certain neighborhoods (concentration of buildings, absence of support infrastructure) which generate risk situations. , or rather danger. Of course, we cannot overlook the problem of old neighborhoods that are abandoned in certain regions, but where populations still live and are exposed to multiple dangers following the continuous dilapidation of buildings. Finally, it is useful, even necessary, to also mention the perception of risk, which is sometimes extremely vague, in the minds of populations who end up generating their own risk themselves. In this article, we briefly examine the notion of risk, its perception in the collective mind and its consequences in everyday life. We then present, on a practical example, the contribution of GIS solutions and satellite imagery to the analysis and forecasting of risk in urban areas. The examples are taken from Algerian towns in the pre-Saharan zone. We will take the city of Laghouat as an example and we will develop the aspect of risk generation by the individual and society as a whole; we will also see how the local authority contributes to this situation of generation of risk or danger and, above all, how it can remedy it.

Neighborhood disadvantage has an indirect effect on problem drinking through increased psychological distress.

Neighborhood disadvantage has been documented as a risk factor for problem drinking. The specific aim of this investigation is to test a model of neighborhood disadvantage, psychological distress, and problem drinking in a demographically and socioeconomically diverse sample. A sample of 618 adults (21-65-year-olds; Mage = 30.80, SD = 9.81; 58% female) who reported drinking alcohol at least once in the past 6 months, completed an online questionnaire with questions about psychological distress (depression, stress, social isolation) and problem drinking (drinking problems, drinking to cope, binge drinking) twice over the course of 6 months. Their data were merged with the American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau to form an index of neighborhood disadvantage (median income, % residents with less than high school education, % living in poverty, % receiving income assistance). A structural equation modeling analysis showed that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with increases in psychological distress during the T1-T2 interval. Psychological distress was also positively associated with problem drinking at both T1 and T2. There was an indirect effect of neighborhood disadvantage on problem drinking through increased psychological distress. However, there was no direct effect of neighborhood disadvantage on problem drinking in this sample. Increased psychological distress may be a key mechanism that links living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and problem drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Comprehensive assets-based approach for neighborhoods that are under-resourced in Jakarta (case study: Keagungan Sub-district in West Jakarta, Indonesia)

Neighborhoods that are under-resourced are one of the main problems that almost always accompany the growth of big cities, especially in developing countries, including Jakarta. This research aims to examine the application of the Comprehensive Assets-Based Approach (CABA) as an alternative solution to the problem of neighborhoods that are under-resourced in Jakarta. The research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method by examining one of the structuring concepts as an alternative solution to settlement problems in Jakarta, which is directed at achieving liveable housing variables. Data on houses and settlements were obtained directly from Keagungan sub-districts, including neighborhoods that are under-resourced in Jakarta. The first step is to analyze settlement data to formulate the main problems in the neighborhoods that are under-resourced. The second step is to analyze the application of the CABA method to the problems that have been obtained before. The results of the research found that one of the primary root problems in the neighborhoods that are under-resourced in Jakarta is the interweaving of economic and social problems, which include lack of income, lack of knowledge and adherence to building regulations, as well as the lack of knowledge on the criteria for liveable housing. We, therefore, conclude that it is very likely to apply the CABA method for solving neighborhoods that are under-resourced in Jakarta based on community empowerment.

Examining the Influence of Neighborhood Factors on Older Adult Health in a Developing Country

The aging population in Malaysia needs the development of age-friendly neighborhoods to support healthy aging. This study examined the neighborhood variables affecting the quality of life related to health among older adults through a questionnaire survey of 254 participants in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Significant determinants included accessibility, safety from crime, environmental quality, and addressing neighborhood problems. Additionally, the presence of third places, such as shopping centers and cultural/educational institutions, was found to promote health among older adults. The findings indicated that policymakers and developers should develop age-friendly neighborhoods that could effectively support aging in place for older adults.

Spatial-temporal patterns of urban expansion by land use/ land cover transfer in China

Urbanization has accelerated in China, resulting in a noticeable conflict between urban expansion and land use/land cover (LULC). This issue can exacerbate ecological and developmental problems in urban neighborhoods, so it is crucial to explore the relationship between long-term urban expansion and LULC spatial and temporal transitions. We first defined urban built-up areas in terms of human economic activity and then used spatial measures to examine urban expansion and spatio-temporal changes in 25 LULC classes by analyzing 369 cities across China. Our findings indicate that China’s urban built-up areas expanded 9.1 times between 1995 and 2020, with the fastest growth rate occurring between 1995 and 2005 at about 16%. We observed a negative association between China’s urban built-up area and dry farming land, forests, and grassland in that order, with grassland exhibiting the weakest correlation. The negative correlation between urban built-up areas and paddy fields became positive after 2010, while the positive correlation with reservoirs and canals became negative after 2015. This study utilized spatial measures to demonstrate the spatial heterogeneity of urban expansion in China and explored the extent to which different LULC area changes explained urban expansion. We provide a reference for decision-making efforts on land management and sustainable use in urban areas.

Distinct moderating pathways for psychosocial risk and resilience in the association of neighborhood disadvantage with incident heart failure among Black persons

ObjectiveTo assess whether psychosocial factors moderate the associations between neighborhood disadvantage and incident heart failure (HF). MethodsAmong 1448 Non-Hispanic (NH) Black persons dually enrolled in two community-based cohorts in Jackson, Mississippi who were free of HF as of January 1, 2000, 336 HF events classified by reviewer panel accrued through December 31, 2017. Multilevel, multivariable Cox regression models were used to examine whether optimism and negative affect moderated the associations of two measures of neighborhood characteristics (the national Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and perceived neighborhood problems) on incident hospitalized HF. ResultsOptimism moderated the association of the ADI with incident HF. Compared to participants reporting the lowest tertile of optimism, those in the highest tertile of optimism had a 29% lower rate of HF associated with increasing ADI in fully adjusted models. We found no evidence for a moderating effect of negative affect. ConclusionsThis study supports optimism as a source of resilience to the detrimental effects of neighborhood disadvantage on HF risk. Population-level strategies to promote sociocultural antecedents to optimism may serve as a viable method of reducing the disproportionate burden of HF among NH Black persons.

On the relationship between green space and civic engagement: The roles of well-being, outgroup trust, and activity level.

Much research has been devoted to the positive effect of green space on prosociality, but little is known about its impact on civic engagement. It is also unclear how the effect takes place. This research fills the voids by regressing 2440 UScitizen's civic engagement on the vegetation density and park area in their neighborhoods. It further examines if the effect is due to changes in well-being, interpersonal trust, or activity level. Park area predicts higher civic engagement, which is mediated by higher trust in outgroups. However, the data is inconclusive about the effect of vegetation density and the well-being mechanism. In contrast to the activity hypothesis, the effect of parks on civic engagement is stronger in unsafe neighborhoods, suggesting that they are valuable resources to combat neighborhood problems. The results bring insights into how individuals and communities can benefit the most from green spaces in the neighborhood.

0853 Neighborhood disorder and pain: The mediating role of sleep

Abstract Introduction Neighborhood factors are related to poor sleep, and sleep problems are known to have a strong relationship with pain. The underlying mechanisms for this association remain unclear. The present study evaluated whether sleep duration, sleep quality, or global sleep quality mediated the relation between perceived Neighborhood Disorder (ND) and pain intensity or interference. The study also explored whether adjusting for depressive symptoms accounted for significant mediational pathways found in Aim 1. Methods Participants were drawn from Wave 4 (September 2013 to September 2017) of the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) epidemiologic cohort study (n=1,071). Perceived ND was measured using the HANDLS Neighborhood Problems Scale, which assesses how often a particular neighborhood problem occurs. The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Pain Intensity short form 3a was used to assess how much a person hurt in the past 7 days, and pain interference was measured by the bodily pain subdomain of the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, and global sleep quality. Results Results of the study revealed mediating effects of global sleep quality on the relation of perceived ND and pain intensity (indirect effect = .5527, SE =.1355, 95% CI [.2914, .8316]) and pain interference (indirect effect = .0579 (SE = .0143), 95% CI [.0312, .0876]) and also of subjective sleep quality on pain intensity (indirect effect = .5801, SE =.1337, 95% CI [.3206, .8468]) and pain interference (indirect effect = .0587 (SE =.0137), 95% CI [.0327, .0867]). Results revealed that mediating effects of sleep quality and global sleep on the relation of perceived ND and pain intensity and pain interference remained significant after adjustment for depressive symptoms. Conclusion These findings provide preliminary evidence to support the notion that select sleep dimensions, particularly sleep quality, is a pathway by which subjective neighborhood factors may impact pain intensity and pain interference. More research is needed to understand potential pathways underlying the perceived ND and pain relation. Support (if any) NIH Intramural Research Program Inter-laboratory proposal provided by the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program

0245 Association Between Neighborhood Conditions and Sleep Quality in The Offspring Study

Abstract Introduction On average, minoritized racial and ethnic groups, including non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults, sleep more poorly than non-Hispanic White adults (hereafter, Black and White). Although racial and ethnic sleep disparities have been well-documented, few studies have investigated factors that may contribute to sleep disparities, such as the neighborhood environment. We hypothesized that Black and Hispanic adults demonstrate associations between more positive neighborhood conditions and higher sleep quality. Methods In the community-based Offspring Study, we assessed cross-sectional associations between the neighborhood environment and self-reported sleep quality in Black, Hispanic, and White adults (n=993; 27-91 years; M=56 , SD=11). Participants self-reported positive (cohesion, safety) and negative (problems, disorder) aspects of their neighborhood experiences on 29 questionnaire items, which were summed on subscales for each aspect of the neighborhood. We assessed sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Both sleep quality and neighborhood experiences were treated as continuous variables. We performed multivariable regression analyses stratified by racial and ethnic group and adjusted for age, education, and gender identity. Results More positive neighborhood experiences (higher neighborhood cohesion and safety; lower disorder and problems) were associated with higher sleep quality in Black, Hispanic, and White adults in unadjusted models. In adjusted models, only neighborhood cohesion was associated higher sleep quality in each racial and ethnic group (Black: 0.17, [0.03, 0.31]; Hispanic: 0.09, [0.03, 0.16]; White: B=0.129, [0.004, 0.25]). In White adults, higher neighborhood problems were associated with poorer sleep quality (B=-0.17, [-0.26, -0.07]). In Black and Hispanic adults, safer neighborhoods (Black: B=0.82, [0.24, 1.41]; Hispanic: B=0.65, [0.37, 0.93]) and lower neighborhood disorder (Black: B=0.14, 0.01, 0.27]; Hispanic: B=0.09, [0.02, 0.15]) were associated with higher sleep quality. Conclusion Neighborhood environment may be a driver of individual differences in sleep quality across the adult lifespan. Improving neighborhood conditions may be one method to improve sleep quality and reduce racial and ethnic sleep disparities. Support (if any) This research is supported by the Columbia Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Alzheimer's Disease Disparities (P30AG059303-01), NIH (R01AG054070), and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Sleep Research Program for Advancing Careers travel scholarship.

Migration and urban space in a small town in Catalonia: the contested neighbourhood

Abstract While much contemporary analysis of social problems in disadvantaged neighbourhoods have ignored the deep connections between everyday interactions in space and the structural tensions due to ethnic, racial, class, and gender inequalities that underlie them, this article offers a critical analysis of the groupings put into practice locally in relation to space. Through an ethnography carried out in Salt, a semi-rural Catalan town, this article analyses the emergence and functioning of exclusionary visions on a super-diverse neighbourhood. It does so through a multi-dimensional analysis of the historical macro and micro processes of how resentment towards newcomers emerged in town. Through a mixture of method, such as a review of newspaper clippings from 2000 to 2013, 40 interviews, and participant observation carried out between 2011 and 2014, we see how the much-liked idea of a ‘welcoming town’ promoted by the city council, collides with the lived reality, where many Spanish nationals order the Centre neighbourhood in terms of ‘those from outside’ and ‘the ones from here’. These divisions might easily cross boundaries of ethnicity and culture, and mainly refer to the temporal settlement of the inhabitants. However, in this case they coincide with the grouping of the long-established residents, former migrants from other parts of Spain and Catalans, in contrast to the newly arrived ‘migrants’. This way, we see how social inequalities among residents foster internal divisions expressed through or in a competition over space, that is, residence and use of public space, while at the same time it structures the social understanding of them.

Development of a toolkit to improve interprofessional collaboration and integration in primary care using qualitative interviews and co-design workshops.

Despite numerous attempts to improve interprofessional collaboration and integration (IPCI) in primary care, patients, care providers, researchers, and governments are still looking for tools and guidance to do this more efficiently. To address these issues, we decided to develop a generic toolkit, based on sociocracy and psychological safety principles, to guide care providers in their collaboration within and outside their practice. Finally, we reasoned that, in order to obtain integrated primary care, different strategies should be combined. Development of the toolkit consisted of a multiyear co-development process. Data originating from 65 care providers, through 13 in-depth interviews and five focus groups were analysed and subsequently evaluated in eight co-design workshop sessions, organised with a total of 40 academics, lecturers, care providers and members of the Flemish patient association. Findings from the qualitative interviews and co-design workshops were gradually, and inductively adapted and transformed into the content for the IPCI toolkit. Ten themes were identified: (i) awareness of the importance of interprofessional collaboration, (ii) the need for a self-assessment tool to measure team performance, (iii) preparing a team to use the toolkit, (iv) enhancing psychological safety, (v) developing and determining consultation techniques, (vi) shared decision making, (vii) developing workgroups to tackle specific (neighbourhood) problems, (viii) how to work patient-centred, (ix) how to integrate a new team member, and (x) getting ready to implement the IPCI toolkit. From these themes, we developed a generic toolkit, consisting of eight modules. In this paper, we describe the multiyear co-development process of a generic toolkit for the improvement of interprofessional collaboration. Inspired by a mix of interventions from in and outside healthcare, a modular open toolkit was produced that includes aspects of Sociocracy, concepts as psychological safety, a self-assessment tool and other modules concerned with meetings, decision-making, integrating new team members and population health. Upon implementation, evaluation and further development and improvement, this compounded intervention should have a beneficial effect on the complex problem of interprofessional collaboration in primary care.

The Relationship Between Acceptance, Biopsychosocial Factors, and Quality of Life: A Structural Equation Model

Disability acceptance is one of the most significant constructs in the psychosocial adaptation process. Although prior research has examined the relationship among different biopsychosocial factors, disability acceptance, and quality of life (QoL), limited study focused on entering a series of biopsychosocial factors simultaneously into analysis to reflect live experience of individuals with disabilities. This study aimed to examine the role of acceptance regarding the relationship between a series of biopsychosocial factors (i.e., general health, physical functioning, pain, anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, stigma, sense of community, and neighborhood problems) and QoL based on Livneh’s psychosocial adaptation model to inform psychosocial interventions. A total of 430 participants with disabilities completed an online survey consisting of instruments measuring target variables. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated a three-factor structure for selected biopsychosocial factors (i.e., psychological difficulties, physical status, and community issues). Structural equation modeling results showed that the proposed model indicated a fair model fit after respecification. Effect analyses showed that disability acceptance directly affected QoL and partially mediated the relationship between physical status and QoL and psychological difficulties and QoL. In addition, loneliness has been found to significantly and directly predict QoL in the respecified model. The model demonstrated that disability acceptance and loneliness have a significant impact on QoL.

Abstract P160: Sex-Differences in Physical Activity-Mediated Associations of Perceived Neighborhood Environments With Severity of Metabolic Syndrome Among Jackson Heart Study Participants

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) can lead to harmful effects on cardiovascular health. Assessing whether links between perceived neighborhood social environment (PNSE) and MetS are mediated by physical activity (PA) levels will inform interventions to reduce population-level mortality attributed to MetS. Hypothesis: PNSE will be both directly and indirectly related to MetS severity via PA. Methods: This study utilized baseline data from the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective, community-based cohort of African American adults in Jackson, MS (total sample=3082; mean age 53.3 years; 64% female). PNSE variables included neighborhood violence, problems (higher value=more violence or problems), and social cohesion (higher value=more cohesion). MetS severity Z-score was the outcome (higher score indicates worse MetS). Validated self-reported total PA, based on active living, sports, and home/yard indices, was tested as the mediator. Linear regressions with bootstrap-generated 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals ( BC CIs ) were estimated to test for significant unstandardized indirect effects, controlling for covariates (age, education, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and diet). All analyses were stratified by sex. Results: In women, neighborhood violence, problems, and social cohesion were indirectly related to MetS via PA (B for indirect effects=.04, 95% BC CI =.01, .08; .03, 95% BC CI =.01, .06; and -.03, 95% BC CI =-.07, -.01, respectively). That is, higher violence and problems were related to lower PA (B=-1.06, 95%CI=-1.76, -.36; B=-.79, 95%CI=-1.26, -.32, respectively), while higher social cohesion was associated with higher PA (B=.86, 95%CI=.15, 1.58). In turn, higher PA was associated with lower MetS. All PNSE factors were directly related to MetS (p<.05). In men, neighborhood violence, problems, and social cohesion were indirectly related to MetS via PA (B for indirect effects=.06, 95% BC CI =.02, .12; .04, 95% BC CI =.01, .08; and -.06, 95% BC CI =-.11, -.02, respectively). Again, higher violence and problems were related to lower PA (B=-1.65, 95%CI=-2.58, -.71; B=-1.02, 95%CI=-1.64, -.40, respectively), while higher social cohesion was associated with higher PA (B=1.58, 95%CI=.64, 2.52). In turn, higher PA was associated with lower MetS. No PNSEs were directly related to MetS. Conclusions: Consistent with what we expected, higher perceived neighborhood violence and problems were positively related to MetS, and vice versa for social cohesion. These associations may be explained in part by PA levels. The data showed that indirect effects by PA were more pronounced in men than women. Future interventions to reduce MetS attributed to neighborhood issues should consider PA promotion tailored to women and men in conjunction with community efforts to reduce neighborhood violence and problems and encourage cohesive neighborhoods.

Older and feeling unsafe? Differences in underlying vulnerability, anxiety and life satisfaction among older adults

Objectives: Feeling safe in the daily environment is important in late life. However, research on configuration of vulnerability factors for perceived unsafety in older adults is scarce. The current study aimed to identify latent subgroups of older adults based on their vulnerability for perceived unsafety.Method: We analyzed the data from a cross-sectional survey of residents in senior apartments in a mid-sized Swedish municipality (N = 622).Results: The results of the latent profile analysis based on frailty, fear of falling, social support, perceived neighborhood problems, and trust in others in the neighborhood indicated the presence of three profiles. These profiles were labelled as compromised body and social networks (7.2%), compromised context (17.9%) and non-vulnerable (74.9%). Profile membership was statistically predicted by age, gender, and family status and profiles differed in perceived unsafety, anxiety and life satisfaction.Conclusion: Overall, the study findings suggested the existence of latent subgroups of older people based on patterns of vulnerability.