Neighborhood Social Participation Research Articles

The Impact of Cognitive Impairment on Life Satisfaction in Older Adults: Examining the Double Mediating Roles of Neighborhood Satisfaction and Social Participation

ABSTRACT The environment plays an integral role in the lives of individuals with cognitive decline. This study analyzed data from the National Survey of Older Koreans (2020) (9,885 older Koreans). The results showed that cognitively impaired group had lower community environment satisfaction than the cognitively healthy group, which led to lower social participation and lower life satisfaction, and the double mediation effect was significant (B = −.001, p < .001). However, there was no direct effect of cognitive status on life satisfaction (B = .004, p = .759). The findings highlight the imperative for the development of neighborhood environments that foster social engagement among older adults experiencing cognitive decline.

Do pedestrian safety improvements affect older adults' health and social outcomes equitably? A quasi experiment in Singapore

IntroductionPedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are believed to encourage greater social participation, community engagement, and sense of social inclusion, which are important to older individuals at higher risk of being socially isolated. However, most studies on neighborhood walkability, social participation and social inclusion are cross-sectional, making it difficult to robustly establish causal links. Much research on neighborhood walkability is also based in North America and Europe, leaving a knowledge gap on the impact of walkability within other geographic contexts. Furthermore, there is a lack of empirical evidence about whether benefits from traffic calming schemes are distributed equitably. To reduce these empirical gaps, our study capitalises on a ‘quasi-experiment’ to estimate the impact of an infrastructure-focused pedestrian safety program “Silver Zones' in Singapore, a highly urbanised city state in Southeast Asia with an aging population. MethodsThis study utilises panel data from a high-frequency internet-based survey of older adults that has been administered from 2015 till present. We examine how changes in older residents' residential proximity to Silver Zones relate to changes in their social and health outcomes. We also test whether the relationship between Silver Zones and older individuals' health and social participation outcomes might be moderated by age and socioeconomic class. Finally, we interpret these findings in view of participants’ perceptions of Silver Zones. Results and conclusionWe find that the oldest participants with low SES -- a particularly vulnerable subgroup -- experienced negative changes after the opening of Silver Zones near them, as did those classified as mid SES. In contrast, our findings suggest that new Silver Zones might have a positive effect on older adults of high SES. These findings suggest that there might be inequities in the impact of pedestrian safety programs on residents' social outcomes. Additionally, while our findings were statistically significant, they also suggest that Silver Zones’ contribution to changes in participant outcomes were relatively small, which might be due to a mismatch between perceptions of Silver Zones, actual exposure, and participant outcomes. Our findings underscore the need for more outreach and publicity campaigns around pedestrian safety initiatives, as well as the importance of going beyond self-reported perceptions when assessing the success of pedestrian safety schemes like the Silver Zones.

Neighborhood safety, fall indices, physical activity level and social participation restrictions from a population of community-dwelling older adults in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

BackgroundRestriction in physical activity (PA) and social participation restriction (PR) can be heightened in the presence of fear of fall (FOF), fall experience, and perceived unsafe neighborhood, particularly among older adults. Despite the enormous benefits of social participation and physical activity, many older adults remain vulnerable to participation restriction and this probably accounts for a significant proportion of health challenges for older adults.ObjectiveThis study investigated the relationship between neighborhood safety (NS), fall indices, physical activity, and social participation restriction among older adults from selected communities in Nsukka, Enugu state, Nigeria.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey of 170 recruited via consecutive non-probability sampling techniques. Socio-demographic variables, co-morbidities, and fall prevalence were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The study instruments include the PA neighborhood environment scale – Nigeria (PANES-N), PA scale for elderly (PASE), Participation scale (PS), Modified fall efficacy scale (MFES), and Fall risk assessment tool (FRAT) and fall indices.Statistical analysisDescriptive statistics of mean and standard deviations, frequency counts, and percentages were used to analyze the socio-demographic variables, and Inferential statistics of Spearman rank order correlation were used to determine the relationship among the neighborhood safety, fall indices, physical activity level, and participation restrictions.ResultsPR has a negative relationship with NS (r = -0.19, p- 0.01), and fall efficacy (r = -0.52, p- 0.001). However, PR has a positive relationship with fall risk (r = 0.36, p = 0.001).ConclusionParticipation restriction is negatively correlated with neighborhood safety, fall efficacy, and PA. The PR has a positive relationship with fall risk (FR).

Neighborhood Social Support and Social Participation as Predictors of Dating Violence.

Many adolescents experience violence in the context of dating and romantic relationships. Neighborhoods can influence dating violence by offering certain resources which can provide social support and opportunities for social participation, but knowledge about these effects is still limited. The purpose of the current study was to (a) assess the association between neighborhood social support, social participation, and dating violence, and (b) explore possible gender difference in these associations. This study was conducted on a subsample of 511 participants living in Montréal from the Québec Health Survey of High School Students (QHSHSS 2016-2017). QHSHSS data were used to measure psychological and physical/sexual violence (perpetration and victimization), neighborhood social support, and social participation, as well as individual and family covariates. Several neighborhood-level data from multiple sources were also used as covariates. Logistic regressions were performed to estimate associations between neighborhood social support and social participation, and Dating violence (DV). Analyses were conducted separately for girls and boys to explore possible gender differences. Findings suggest that girls who reported high neighborhood social support had a lower risk of perpetrating psychological DV. High social participation was associated with a lower risk of perpetrating physical/sexual DV for girls, whereas it was associated with a higher risk of perpetrating psychological DV for boys. Preventive strategies to foster social support in neighborhoods, such as mentoring programs, and the development of community organizations to increase the social participation of adolescents could help reduce DV. To address the perpetration of DV by boys, prevention programs in community and sports organizations targeting male peer groups should also be developed to prevent these behaviors.

Abstract C083: Exploring relationships between neighborhood social vulnerability and cancer screening in Miami-Dade County

Abstract Purpose: Social and structural contributors to social vulnerability have been associated with cancer disparities across the continuum. This study aimed to explore relationships between indicators of neighborhood social vulnerability and participation in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening in Miami-Dade County. Methods: Data were obtained at the census tract level from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (2014-2018), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (2018), and the CDC PLACES dataset (2018). This analysis was restricted to Miami-Dade census tracts for which PLACES data was available on mammography (n=135), cervical cancer screening (n=115), and colorectal screening (n=136) participation. Census tracts were stratified into tertiles based on screening participation, then social vulnerability indicators were assessed among the tertiles. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify characteristics responsible for most variability in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening. Results: Mammography participation was 51.76%, 58.80%, and 65.65% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p&amp;lt;.001), earning an income below poverty (p&amp;lt;.001), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p&amp;lt;.001), the proportion of non-Hispanic White residents (p&amp;lt;.001), unemployed residents (p&amp;lt;.001), residents with a disability (p&amp;lt;.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p&amp;lt;.001) were significantly different between the tertiles. Cervical cancer screening participation was 79.60%, 84.36%, and 87.80% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p&amp;lt;.001), earning an income below poverty (p&amp;lt;.001), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p&amp;lt;.001), and proportion of single-parent households with children under age 17 (p&amp;lt;.001), non-Hispanic White residents (p&amp;lt;.001), unemployed residents (p&amp;lt;.001), residents with a disability (p&amp;lt;.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p&amp;lt;.001) were significantly different between the screening tertiles. Colorectal cancer screening participation was 79.26%, 81.06%, and 85.26% in the lower, middle, and upper tertiles, respectively. Among these tracts, per capita income (p&amp;lt;.01), earning an income below poverty (p&amp;lt;.004), educational attainment below earning an HS diploma (p&amp;lt;.001), the proportion of residents with a disability (p&amp;lt;.001), and people with no computer or limited access to the internet (p&amp;lt;.001) were significantly different between the screening tertiles. Conclusions: These data suggest that social vulnerability is associated with cancer screening uptake, namely mammography, cervical cancer screening, and colorectal cancer screening. Further investigation of the social and structural factors contributing to disparities in cancer screening will help appropriately allocate resources and craft effective interventions to reduce the burden of cancer among those most vulnerable. Citation Format: Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop, Jordan A. Baeker-Bispo, Zinzi D. Bailey, Erin K. Kobetz. Exploring relationships between neighborhood social vulnerability and cancer screening in Miami-Dade County [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C083.

Impact of residing in neighborhoods of high social participation on health of retired workers: A multilevel analysis using nationwide longitudinal data in Japan

Retirement is a key determinant of health among middle-aged and older adults. Social participation (SP) has a favorable impact on health outcomes. Combining these two issues, we examined how neighborhood-level SP may affect the health outcomes of retired workers. We used 94,661 longitudinal observations of 13,185 full-time workers aged 50–59 years in 2005 from a nationwide 14-wave survey conducted in Japan from 2005 to 2018. First, we computed neighborhood SP using an econometric method. We then conducted multilevel analysis to examine how neighborhood SP, retirement, and their interaction affected the probabilities of SP, poor self-rated health (SRH), problems in activities of daily living (ADL), and psychological distress (SD). The estimation results showed that retirement in a high-SP neighborhood reduced the probabilities of poor SRH, ADL problems, and SD by 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.5–1.7), 0.9 (95% CI:0.0–1.8), and 2.1 (95% CI:0.6–3.7) percentage points, respectively. These effects were substantial in magnitude, considering that the prevalence of poor SRH, ADL problems, and SD were 3.7%, 7.4%, and 18.5%, respectively, among retired men. In contrast, such interaction effects between retirement and neighborhood SP were not observed among the women. The results suggest that policy measures to encourage SP at the neighborhood level should be developed to help individuals enjoy a healthier life in retirement.

Neighborhood environment, healthy aging, and social participation among ethnic minority adults over 50: the case of the Turkish-Speaking community in London

ABSTRACT Social participation has been recognized as an important component of healthy aging. At the same time, research has identified the central role of the neighborhood environment in determining healthy aging and social participation in old age. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the everyday lives of adults over 50 from ethnic minority backgrounds in relation to social participation and place. This paper focuses on the experiences of social participation among the Turkish-speaking community in north London. We undertook 48 semi-structured individual interviews and five community mapping workshops with 17 participants, all with people over 50, in London between March and November 2017. We supplemented these activities with 13 interviews with professional participants as coordinators of Turkish/Kurdish community associations. We thematically analyzed these interviews and mapping workshops and identified three interconnected themes: “feelings of security in the neighborhood,” “density and diversity,” and “proximity to ethnic amenities” to explain participants’ social participation patterns within the context of their neighborhood. The findings articulate the pathways through which personal characteristics and perceived identities intersect with the physical, social and cultural environment of the neighborhood to shape opportunities for social participation among Turkish-speaking adults over 50.

Association between neighborhood walkability and social participation in community-dwelling older adults in Japan: A cross-sectional analysis of the keeping active across generations uniting the youth and the aged study.

This study investigated neighborhood walkability using Walk Score® and social participation in districts within a city among older Japanese adults. This study was a cross-sectional study using baseline data of older adults from the Keeping Active across Generations Uniting the Youth and the Aged study. In total, 2750 participants (1361 men and 1389 women, mean age 72.8± 6.4 years) were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included socioeconomic status, self-rated health, medical history, depressive symptoms, instrumental activities of daily living and social participation. We used the Walk Score® as neighborhood walkability and a walk score <50 was categorized as a "car-dependent" area and a score ≥50 as a "walkable" area. A Poisson regression analysis stratified by sex was performed to investigate the association of neighborhood walkability with social participation. Prevalence ratios were calculated and their 95% confidence intervals. We found that dwelling in car-dependent areas (prevalence ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.64-0.94) had a significant negative effect on women's social participation, unlike men. Our study showed that neighborhood walkability and social participation were associated with older Japanese women after adjusting for the covariates. These findings might provide helpful information for public health interventions targeted to promote social participation among older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 350-359.

The Effect of Satisfaction with Community Physical Environment on Life Satisfaction among the Elderly: A Focus on the Double Mediating Effects of Subjective Neighborhood Relationships and Social Participation

본 연구는 노인의 지역사회 물리적 환경 만족이 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향에 대해 분석하며 이 과정에서 주관적 이웃관계와사회참여의 이중 매개효과를 검증하는 것을 연구목적으로 하고 있다. 이를 위해 2019년 지역사회건강조사를 활용하여 전국 만 65세이상 74세 이하 노인(N=30,531)에 해당하는 자료를 추출하여 활용하였다. 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 지역사회 물리적 환경 만족은삶의 만족도에 정적인 영향을 미치는 것으로 확인되었다. 둘째, 지역사회 물리적 환경 만족이 삶의 만족에 미치는 영향에 있어서 주관적이웃관계와 사회참여는 각각 부분매개효과가 있는 것으로 확인되었다. 마지막으로 지역사회 물리적 환경 만족이 삶의 만족도에 미치는영향 관계에 있어서 주관적 이웃관계와 사회참여의 이중 매개효과는 통계적으로 유의미하게 나타났다. 즉 지역사회 물리적 환경에만족할수록 주관적 이웃관계가 개선되고 이를 통해 노인의 사회참여가 증가하여 삶의 만족도가 증가하게 되는 것으로 해석할 수 있다. 이와 같은 연구결과를 토대로 지역사회에서 이웃관계가 노인에게 미치는 영향에 대해 제고하며 이웃관계를 통해 사회참여를 이끌어내는것에 주목한다. 이를 통해 노년기에 새로운 역할을 통해 긍정적인 자아상을 확립하고 만족스러운 노년을 보내는데 논의하고 제언하였다.

Social Capital and COVID-19 Deaths: An Ecological Analysis in Japan.

Social contextual factors could determine mortality by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with social capital as a potential determinant. This study aimed to examine the association between prefecture-level social capital and COVID-19 deaths in Japan. Data on the cumulative number of COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 individuals between 1 October 2020 and 30 June 2021 in 47 prefectures were obtained from the government open-access database. Prefecture-level social capital was collected from a large-scale web-based nationwide survey conducted between August and September 2020. We included trust in neighbors, norm of reciprocity in the neighborhood, and trust in the national government as cognitive social capital, and neighborhood ties and social participation as structural social capital. The cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 individuals (1 October 2020 to 30 June 2021) ranged from 0.15 to 27.98 in 47 prefectures. A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for covariates showed that a greater norm of reciprocity and government trust were associated with fewer COVID-19 deaths during the first and second 3-month periods of observation. In the third 3-month period, the association between COVID-19 deaths and government trust became nonsignificant. Trust in neighbors, neighborhood ties, and social participation were not related to COVID-19 deaths during any time period. The disparity of COVID-19 deaths by prefecture in Japan can be explained by cognitive social capital. This study suggests that the association between social capital and COVID-19 deaths may vary according to the dimension of social capital and time period.

Does social capital interact with economic hardships in influencing older adults\u2019 health? A study from China

BackgroundThe importance of social and economic capital as predictors of health is widely documented, yet the complexity of interactions between them and effects on older people’s health is still unclear. Combining the material and psychosocial explanations of health, this study explores the potential interactions between social and economic capital in influencing older adults’ health in urban and rural China.MethodsUsing data from the China Family Panel Survey, physical and mental health in 2018 were regressed on social and economic capital indicators in 2016, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics of 3535 respondents aged 65 and older. Rothman’s synergy index was calculated to investigate potential interaction effects.ResultsEconomic hardships were significantly related to both self-reported health and mental health. Neighborhood cohesion and social participation were significantly associated with mental health for all, bonding trust was significantly associated with mental health for urban older people. We found no significant associations between social capital components and self-reported health. There was an interaction effect between low neighborhood cohesion and economic hardships, and between low social participation and economic hardships, creating an increased burden of poor mental health. The interaction effect between low bonding trust and economic hardships on mental health was apparent only among urban older people.ConclusionsGeographical settings are important factors in the complexity between social and economic capital in affecting older health. Intervention efforts directed towards reducing simultaneously multiple dimensions of deprivation, such as poverty, social exclusion, social isolation, could be helpful in improving older people’s health. In materially deprived places, policies to promote health equity by improving social capital but without eliminating poverty may be less effective.

Neighborhood environment, social participation, and physical activity in older adults with lower limb osteoarthritis: A mediation analysis

Older adults with lower limb osteoarthritis (LLOA) are highly dependent on their physical and social environment for being physically active. Longitudinal data from 2286 older adults (Mage=73.8 years; 50.3% female) in six European countries were analyzed using cross-lagged Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and multi-group SEM. In cross-sectional analyses, neighborhood resources were associated with physical activity (r=0.26;p<.001) and social participation (r=0.13;p=.003). Physical activity at follow-up was associated with neighborhood resources, with this relationship mediated by social participation in people with LLOA (β=0.018;p=.013). To promote future physical activity, opportunities to socially engage in neighborhoods need to be targeted primarily to people with LLOA.

Neighborhood Social Group Participation and Depressive Symptoms Among Mid-to-Late Life Black Americans: Does the Association Differ by Ethnicity?

This study examined how neighborhood social participation relates to depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks. A subsample of African Americans (N = 1616) and Caribbean Blacks (N = 601) age 40 and older were drawn from the National Survey of American Life (NSAL). Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood social participation and depressive symptoms. In fully adjusted models, non-participation in available neighborhood organizations was associated with higher depressive symptoms among Caribbean Blacks (b = 1.93, p < .01), while neighborhood social participation was unrelated to depressive symptoms among African Americans. Non-participation in available neighborhood group associations is a risk factor for depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Caribbean Blacks. Future research should assess the correlates of non-participation in available neighborhood organizations, and the mechanisms underlying how non-participation in these organizations relates to the psychological well-being of Caribbean Blacks.

Relationship between neighbourhood social participation and depression among older adults: A longitudinal study in China.

Previous research has found a negative linkage between neighbourhood social participation and depressive symptoms in Western countries, but the cross-sectional design of these studies limits the ability to infer causality. Little attention has been paid to socio-psychological pathways linking neighbourhood social participation to depressive symptoms among older adults in China. This study aimed to examine the impact of neighbourhood social participation on depressive symptoms among older adultsin China. It alsofurther explored the mediating roles of physical activity, social contact among neighbours, and contact with own children in the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms. Data obtained through three waves (2011, 2013, and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. The sample consisted of 10,105 individuals aged 60 and above and 24,623 person-year records captured during these three waves. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiology Studies of Depression scale. Results showed that respondents' depression decreased with an increasing level of neighbourhood social participation, more time spent on physical activities, and a higher frequency of contact with neighbours and with own children. These factors were found to partly mediate the relationship between neighbourhood social participation and depression. The negative relationships between social contact and depression and contact with own children and depression were both strengthened by neighbourhood social participation. In conclusion, physical activity, social contact among neighbours and contact with own children are mechanisms through which neighbourhood social participation lowers the risk of depression among older adults in China.

Transfer of Promotion Effects on Elderly Health with Age: From Physical Environment to Interpersonal Environment and Social Participation.

An important goal of building “age-friendly communities” is to help the elderly to access more opportunities for social participation and better health. However, little is known about the complex relationships between neighborhood environment, social participation, and elderly health. This study examined the mediating role of social participation in the area of neighborhood environment affecting elderly health and explored the discrepancy among different age groups in 43 neighborhoods of Shanghai. Both neighborhood environment and social participation had significant positive effects on elderly health in all the samples. Meanwhile, social participation served as a mediator of the relationship between interpersonal environment and elderly health. Furthermore, remarkably, health promotion effects transferred from the physical environment to interpersonal environment and social participation with age; the influence of physical environment on elderly health decreased with the increase of age, while the influence of interpersonal environment and social participation on the health of the elderly increased with the increase of age. This study found that physical environment, interpersonal environment, and social participation had different effects on elderly health of different ages. Different policies should be applied toward improving the interpersonal environment, optimizing of physical environment, and guiding the community activities.

Development and validation of the Social Capital Assessment Tool in pregnancy for Maternal Health in Low and middle income countries (LSCAT-MH)

ObjectivesSocial capital which implies ‘features of social organisation, such as trust, norms and networks that can improve the efficiency of society by facilitating coordinated actions’ is rarely assessed in relation...

Neighbourhood Ethnic Composition and Social Participation of Young People in England

AbstractWe analyse how neighbourhood ethnic diversity and segregation affect adolescents’ social participation in England. We distinguish between participation in ‘purposeful activities’—such as sports and volunteering—and hanging around with friends. We suggest a novel identification strategy to address the problem of endogeneity of ethnic diversity and segregation. We find that ethnic diversity decreases hanging around, while ethnic segregation increases it. No effects on participation in purposeful activities are found.

Accessibility problems in home environment for seniors in Latvia: Experience from the research project innovAge (WP2)

Studies on relations between health and environment indicate that accessibility positively influence healthy life expectancy, as accessible home environment and neighbourhood support mobility, daily activities and social participation in old age. One of the tasks in the EC 7th framework research project innovAge (2012-2015) aimed to develop an IT tool to support seniors’ involvement in decisions about their housing options and help them to become active partners in choice and supply of housing. This study aims to explore seniors’ opinions about accessibility in their physical home environment based on analysis of data - interview records and notes - from two study stages in the research project innovAge (WP2). Participants, at the first stage - 8 seniors and at the second stage - 10 seniors, represented variety of living conditions, family situations and functional abilities. Participation in the study was voluntary and the participants had right to withdraw from the study at any stage. Usually, barriers in home environment seniors consider late, when functional abilities decreases substantially. The most common places where environmental barriers appear are sanitary spaces, kitchen and entrance of the home. Despite the environmental barriers and functional limitations, seniors remain in their homes, mainly because in Latvia do not exist traditions to seek options for relocation, as well as there are no policies and services to support this. In few municipalities options exist to adapt home environment, but it refers only to cases of severe disability for persons using wheelchair. Usually, the need for environment adaptations for seniors is replaced by care services, thus meeting also the needs for seniors’ socialization. Regarding possibilities to adapt home environment, strong prejudices exist (bath vs. shower, disadvantages of living on the first floor, etc.). Seniors admitted that they lack knowledge and experience on housing adaptations, but emphasized that the environmental accessibility in a wider context, including the neighbourhood and services, is essential. The close cooperation with participants facilitated the researchers’ understanding of the seniors’ complex views and needs regarding their home environment and related issues, which are important for developing housing policies for senior citizens in Latvia. Despite the specified accessibility problems in home environment, the seniors evaluated usability of their homes generally high.

Ethnic inequalities in health between Arabs and Jews in Israel: the relative contribution of individual-level factors and the living environment.

Ethnic inequalities in health (EIH) are unjust public health problem that emerge across societies. In Israel, despite uniform healthcare coverage, marked EIH persist between Arabs and Jews. We draw on the ecosocial approach to examine the relative contributions of individual socioeconomic status (SES), psychosocial and health behavioral factors, and the living environment (neighborhood problems, social capital, and social participation) to explaining ethnic differences in self-rated health (SRH). Data were derived from two nationwide studies conducted in 2004-2005 of stratified samples of Arabs (N=902) and Jews (N=1087). Poor SRH was significantly higher among Arabs after adjustment for age and gender [odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.94 (1.57-2.40)]. This association was reversed following adjustment for all possible mediators: OR (95% CI)=0.70(0.53-0.92). The relative contribution of SES and the living environment was sizable, each attenuating the EIH by 40%, psychosocial factors by 25%, and health behaviors by 16%. Arabs in Israel have poorer SRH than Jews. Polices to reduce this inequality should mainly focus on improving the SES and the living conditions of the Arabs, which might enhance health behaviors and well-being.

Associations Among Neighborhood Characteristics, Mobility Limitation, and Social Participation in Late Life.

Although emerging research suggests neighborhood characteristics can support and restrict social participation in older adults, further research regarding a wider range of neighborhood characteristics and interactions between individual and neighborhood characteristics is needed. This study explored associations between neighborhood characteristics and frequency of participation in three social activities among older adults and interactions between neighborhood characteristics and mobility limitation as they relate to participation. Data from the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement Study linked with American Community Survey data were used. Participants included community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older. Analysis involved multivariate logistic regression. High proportion of neighborhood residents aged 65 and older was associated with increased odds of more frequent participation in all three activities. High population density was associated with increased odds of club attendance. High neighborhood social cohesion was associated with increased odds of attending nonreligious meetings. Interactions between walking limitation and population density or social cohesion related to increased odds of participation. Findings suggest that improving older adults' ability to participate in community life and age in place requires strategies that consider how neighborhood and individual characteristics interact and how these characteristics may differentially affect types of participation.