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Neighborhood characteristics and change in depressive symptoms among older residents of New York City

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  • Beard, J.R.
  • Cerdá, M.
  • Blaney, S.
  • Ahern, J.
  • Vlahov, D.
  • Galea, S.

Abstract

Objectives. We investigated the relationship between the depressive symptoms of older adults over time and the characteristics of the neighborhoods in which they live. Methods. We surveyed a random sample of 1325 New York City residents aged 50 years or older in 2005 and conducted 808 follow-up interviews in 2007. We assessed the compositional characteristics of the respondents' neighborhoods at a census-tract level and determined the relationships between these characteristics and changes in respondents' depressive symptoms. Results. In multivariable models that adjusted for individual-level covariates including income, a range of neighborhood characteristics predicted worsening depressive symptoms. Factor analysis suggested that these characteristics operated in 3 clusters: neighborhood socioeconomic influences, residential stability, and racial/ethnic composition, with positive neighborhood socioeconomic influences being significantly protective against worsening symptoms. Life stressors, personality trait neuroticism, African American race, and daily baseline contact with social networks were also associated with worsening symptoms. Conclusions. An older adult's neighborhood of residence is an important determinant of his or her mental health. Those making efforts to improve mental health among the elderly need to consider the role of residential context in improving or impairing mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Beard, J.R. & Cerdá, M. & Blaney, S. & Ahern, J. & Vlahov, D. & Galea, S., 2009. "Neighborhood characteristics and change in depressive symptoms among older residents of New York City," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(7), pages 1308-1314.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.125104_1
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.125104
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    1. Arlesia Mathis & Ronica Rooks & Daniel Kruger, 2015. "Improving the Neighborhood Environment for Urban Older Adults: Social Context and Self-Rated Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Dustin T. Duncan & Farzana Kapadia & Perry N. Halkitis, 2014. "Examination of Spatial Polygamy among Young Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in New York City: The P18 Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Kravitz-Wirtz, Nicole, 2016. "A discrete-time analysis of the effects of more prolonged exposure to neighborhood poverty on the risk of smoking initiation by age 25," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 79-92.
    4. Rachael E. Collins & Diano F. Marrone, 2015. "Scared Sick," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(3), pages 21582440156, August.
    5. Zeng, Donglin & Wu, Xiaogang, 2022. "Neighborhood collective efficacy in stressful events: The stress-buffering effect," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    6. Alang, Sirry M., 2016. "“Black folk don't get no severe depression”: Meanings and expressions of depression in a predominantly black urban neighborhood in Midwestern United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 1-8.
    7. Hui You & Yao Wang & Lily Dongxia Xiao & Li Liu, 2022. "Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Negative Psychological Symptoms among Elderly Widows Living Alone in a Chinese Remote Sample: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Lin Wang & Yuhang Cheng & Shan Jiang & Ziyao Zhou, 2023. "Neighborhood Quality and Subjective Well-being Among Children: A Moderated Mediation Model of Out-of-school Activities and Friendship Quality," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1607-1626, August.
    9. Dana M. Alhasan & Jana A. Hirsch & Chandra L. Jackson & Maggi C. Miller & Bo Cai & Matthew C. Lohman, 2021. "Neighborhood Characteristics and the Mental Health of Caregivers Cohabiting with Care Recipients Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Bruce, Marta M. & Ulrich, Connie M. & Webster, Jessica & Richmond, Therese S., 2022. "Injured black men's perceptions of the recovery environment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    11. Tyler P. Pittman & Candace I. J. Nykiforuk & Javier Mignone & Piush J. Mandhane & Allan B. Becker & Anita L. Kozyrskyj, 2012. "The Association Between Community Stressors and Asthma Prevalence of School Children in Winnipeg, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-17, February.

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