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Do neighborhoods affect individual mortality? A systematic review and meta-analysis of multilevel studies

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  • Meijer, Mathias
  • Röhl, Jeannette
  • Bloomfield, Kim
  • Grittner, Ulrike

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in investigating whether inhabitants in socially or physically deprived neighborhoods have higher mortality when individual socioeconomic status is adjusted for. Results so far appear ambiguous and the objective of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review of previous studies and to quantify the association between area-level socioeconomic status (ALSES) and all-cause mortality in a meta-analysis. Current guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed. Articles were retrieved from Medline, Embase, Social Sciences Citation Index and PsycInfo and individually evaluated by two researchers. Only peer-reviewed multilevel studies from high-income countries, which analyzed the influence of at least one area-level indicator and which controlled for individual SES, were included. The ALSES estimates in each study were first combined into a single estimate using weighted linear regression. In the meta-analysis we calculated combined estimates with random effects to account for heterogeneity between studies. Out of the 40 studies found eligible for the systematic review 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The systematic review suggests that there is an association between social cohesion and mortality but found no evidence for a clear association for area-level income inequality or for social capital. Studies including more than one area level suggest that characteristics on different area levels contribute to individual mortality. In the meta-analysis we found significantly higher mortality among inhabitants living in areas with low ALSES. Associations were stronger for men and younger age groups and in studies analyzing geographical units with fewer inhabitants.

Suggested Citation

  • Meijer, Mathias & Röhl, Jeannette & Bloomfield, Kim & Grittner, Ulrike, 2012. "Do neighborhoods affect individual mortality? A systematic review and meta-analysis of multilevel studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(8), pages 1204-1212.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:8:p:1204-1212
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.034
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    14. Eva Kibele, 2014. "Individual- and area-level effects on mortality risk in Germany, both East and West, among male Germans aged 65+," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 59(3), pages 439-448, June.
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    17. Justin T. Denney & Jarron M. Saint Onge & Jeff A. Dennis, 2018. "Neighborhood Concentrated Disadvantage and Adult Mortality: Insights for Racial and Ethnic Differences," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 37(2), pages 301-321, April.
    18. Eva U. B. Kibele & Sebastian Klüsener & Rembrandt D. Scholz, 2014. "Regional mortality disparities in Germany: long-term dynamics and possible determinants," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2014-009, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    19. Hystad, Perry & Carpiano, Richard M. & Demers, Paul A. & Johnson, Kenneth C. & Brauer, Michael, 2013. "Neighbourhood socioeconomic status and individual lung cancer risk: Evaluating long-term exposure measures and mediating mechanisms," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 95-103.
    20. Do, D. Phuong & Wang, Lu & Elliott, Michael R., 2013. "Investigating the relationship between neighborhood poverty and mortality risk: A marginal structural modeling approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 58-66.
    21. Maria T Sánchez-Santos & Marco Mesa-Frias & Minkyoung Choi & Eveline Nüesch & Angel Asunsolo-Del Barco & Antoinette Amuzu & George Davey Smith & Shah Ebrahim & David Prieto-Merino & Juan P Casas, 2013. "Area-Level Deprivation and Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality: 12 Years’ Observation on British Women and Systematic Review of Prospective Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(9), pages 1-1, September.
    22. Jens Kandt & Shu-Sen Chang & Paul Yip & Ricky Burdett, 2017. "The spatial pattern of premature mortality in Hong Kong: How does it relate to public housing?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 54(5), pages 1211-1234, April.

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