Neighborhood type, social disequilibrium, and happiness

This study attempts to relate (a) types of urban neighborhoods with extreme scores on the economic status dimension and rates of social and psychological disequilibrium to happiness of its residents, and (b) both aggregate and individual measures of economic status to happiness. Nonverbal behaviors such as suicide, attempted suicide, homicide, marital separation, and psychiatric disruptions served as indicators of the location of "more or less" happiness in the urban environment. Interviews in two types of neighborhoods revealed that people in the high economic-low misery neighborhood experienced greater happiness than those living in the low economic-high misery neighborhood.     

Urban neighborhoods and mental health: Psychological contributions to understanding toxicity, resilience, and interventions.

The psychological consequences of living in urban neighborhoods are described by using examples related to 3 models of neighborhood characteristics. These models highlight the impact of physical, structural, and social characteristics on various types of mental health outcomes. In addition, the characteristics of individuals and neighborhoods that encourage resilience to negative outcomes are discussed. Finally, examples of how psychology can contribute to neighborhood interventions that ameliorate or prevent residents' distress and improve neighborhood conditions are described. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neighborhood deterioration, religious coping, and changes in health during late life

Research indicates that older adults who reside in deteriorated neighborhoods experience more physical health problems than elderly people who dwell in more favorable living environments. The purpose of this study is to see whether the deleterious effects of run-down neighborhoods are reduced for older people who use religious coping responses. Data from a nationwide longitudinal survey of elderly people suggest that the noxious impact of living in a dilapidated neighborhood on changes in self-rated health over time is offset completely for older adults who rely heavily on religious coping strategies. In contrast, significant stress-buffering effects failed to emerge when functional disability served as the outcome measure.     

Do places matter? Socioeconomic disadvantage and behavioral problems of children in Canada.

This study evaluated the influence of neighborhoods and socioeconomic disadvantage on behavioral problems rated by parents and teachers in a nationally representative sample of children ages 4 to 11 yrs living in Canada. Between-neighborhood variation accounted for 7.6% and 6.6% of parent and teacher ratings, respectively. About 25.0% of this neighborhood variation could be explained by socioeconomic variables evenly divided between neighborhood and family-level measures. Family socioeconomic status, lone-parent family status, and percentage of lone parents in neighborhoods were strong, reliable predictors of behavioral problems. Ratings were contextualized: Fewer behavioral problems were assessed in children from well-off families living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, whereas more problems were assessed in children from poor families living in advantaged neighborhoods. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interdependence of architectural features and program variables in community residences for people with mental retardation

In an earlier study, we found that architects, group home administrators, people with mental retardation, family members of people with mental retardation, and college undergraduates rated the homelikeness of slides of community residences for people with mental retardation similarly. In addition, clusters of physical features were identified that were specifically associated with homelikeness ratings. In the present study, behavior of residents with mental retardation living in those residences was assessed using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and direct behavioral observations. After statistically controlling for confounding variables, we found that adaptive and maladaptive behavior covaried with homelikeness ratings. In addition, we were able to identify associations between specific architectural features of residential settings and the behavior of residents living in those settings.     

Living alone and neighborhood characteristics as predictors of social support in late life

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to devise and test a conceptual model that explains how neighborhood quality, fear of crime, and received emotional support affect an elderly person's expectations of future assistance should the need arise (i.e., anticipated support). METHODS: Using a nationwide survey of older adults, a series of nested latent variable models was tested to determine if the social support process differs between older adults living alone and those living with others. RESULTS: Consistent with a social ecological perspective, data suggest that anticipated support is lower among elders who live in deteriorated neighborhoods than among older adults who live in well-maintained neighborhoods. Moreover, the deleterious effects of run-down neighborhoods appear to be especially pronounced for older adults who live alone. DISCUSSION: Select constructs that link deteriorated neighborhoods with anticipated support are explored. Suggestions for future research are made.     

Neighborhood Cohesion as a Buffer Against Hostile Maternal Parenting.

This study explored the moderating effects of children's neighborhoods on the link between hostile parenting and externalizing behavior. Participants were 1st- or 2nd-grade children in an urban northeastern community. Children were administered the Parenting and Neighborhood scales of the Child Puppet Interview, and mothers completed questionnaires on neighborhood quality and parenting practices. Census tract measures of neighborhood quality and teachers' reports of children's externalizing behavior also were obtained. Results indicated that children's and mothers' perceptions of neighborhood involvement-cohesion buffered the link between hostile parenting and externalizing problems. Children's externalizing behavior was unrelated to census tract variables. Findings highlight the protective effect of neighborhood social cohesion and the utility of including young children's perspectives in research on neighborhoods and families. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neighborhood deterioration and self-rated health in later life.

This study examined the relationship between the physical living environment and self-rated health in later life. It is hypothesized that older adults who reside in deteriorated neighborhoods will report more physical health problems than elderly people who live in better physical environments. However, it is further predicted that these effects will only emerge in the most dilapidated living conditions. Data from a nationwide survey of older adults provide support for this complex nonlinear relationship. Further analyses reveal that part of the effect can be attributed to friendship strains that arise in deteriorated neighborhood environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perceived environmental predictors of physical activity over 6 months in adults: Activity Counseling Trial.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 27(2) of Health Psychology (see record 2008-12766-001). One result in Table 2 was misinterpreted in the text. It was reported that men who responded "yes" to frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did about 75 minutes more physical activity per week (pPurpose: In the present study, the authors extend previous cross-sectional findings by using a prospective design to determine whether physical and social environmental characteristics predict physical activity over 6 months. Design: Inactive adults were recruited to the Activity Counseling Trial, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of physical activity intervention in primary care. Participants were 387 women and 474 men aged 35-75 years in 3 regions; 1/3 were minorities; 56% had some college education. Baseline perceived environmental variables were used to predict physical activity at 6 months, adjusting for experimental condition and other potential moderators. Measures: The validated 7-day physical activity recall interview was used to estimate minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A standardized survey was used to measure social and physical environmental variables around the home and neighborhood. Results: Women reporting no unattended dogs and low crime in their neighborhoods and men reporting frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did 50-75 more minutes of physical activity per week than did those with different environmental characteristics. Interactions of environmental variables with age group suggested that older adults may be more affected by environmental variables than are younger adults. Conclusions: Self-reported social and physical environmental variables were significantly related to moderate to vigorous physical activity among a diverse sample of adults living in 3 regions of the United States. These prospective findings strengthen the conclusion from previous cross-sectional studies that environmental variables are important correlates of physical activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Perceived environmental predictors of physical activity over 6 months in adults: Activity Counseling Trial": Correction to Sallis et al. (2007).

Reports an error in "Perceived environmental predictors of physical activity over 6 months in adults: Activity Counseling Trial" by James F. Sallis, Abby C. King, John R. Sirard and Cheryl L. Albright (Health Psychology, 2007[Nov], Vol 26[6], 701-709). One result in Table 2 was misinterpreted in the text. It was reported that men who responded "yes" to frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did about 75 minutes more physical activity per week (p2007-16656-008.) Purpose: In the present study, the authors extend previous cross-sectional findings by using a prospective design to determine whether physical and social environmental characteristics predict physical activity over 6 months. Design: Inactive adults were recruited to the Activity Counseling Trial, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial of physical activity intervention in primary care. Participants were 387 women and 474 men aged 35-75 years in 3 regions; 1/3 were minorities; 56% had some college education. Baseline perceived environmental variables were used to predict physical activity at 6 months, adjusting for experimental condition and other potential moderators. Measures: The validated 7-day physical activity recall interview was used to estimate minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A standardized survey was used to measure social and physical environmental variables around the home and neighborhood. Results: Women reporting no unattended dogs and low crime in their neighborhoods and men reporting frequently seeing people being active in their neighborhoods did 50-75 more minutes of physical activity per week than did those with different environmental characteristics. Interactions of environmental variables with age group suggested that older adults may be more affected by environmental variables than are younger adults. Conclusions: Self-reported social and physical environmental variables were significantly related to moderate to vigorous physical activity among a diverse sample of adults living in 3 regions of the United States. These prospective findings strengthen the conclusion from previous cross-sectional studies that environmental variables are important correlates of physical activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prejudice and discontent.

"Two groups of parents, living in adjacent neighborhoods characterized by markedly different physical features, made approximately equal mean scores on a questionnaire designed to measure prejudice toward Negroes. An analysis of these mean scores, utilizing categories related to liking or disliking the neighborhood, and, for men, liking or disliking their job, showed considerable differences among the respondents in each neighborhood and between the respondents in the two neighborhoods." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mutagenic activation of aromatic amines by molluscs as a biomarker of marine pollution

Prior studies of the association between socioeconomic status and length of survival among persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have produced conflicting results. To investigate this issue further, the authors examined data on 18,167 San Francisco, California, residents aged 13 years or older who were diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1995. Three validated US census-based measures of socioeconomic status were used: poverty, predominantly working class neighborhood, and low educational level. Median length of survival was found to be similar for persons living in neighborhoods characterized by poverty (22 months) and those in higher income neighborhoods (23 months), for persons living in predominantly working class neighborhoods (22 months) and those in predominantly professional/managerial neighborhoods (23 months), and for persons living in neighborhoods characterized by low educational level (23 months) and those in neighborhoods characterized by higher educational level (23 months). After adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, AIDS risk group, site of AIDS diagnosis, time period of AIDS diagnosis, and AIDS-indicator illness, no association was found between survival and living in a neighborhood characterized by poverty (relative hazard (RH)=1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-1.08), between survival and working class occupations (RH=1.03, 95% CI 0.98-1.08), or between survival and low educational level (RH=0.96, 95% CI 0.90-1.01). The lack of an association between socioeconomic status and length of survival with AIDS may be due to the high mortality from AIDS in the era prior to highly effective antiretroviral therapy or to similar levels of access to care in San Francisco.     

Returning basic research to the community: A relationship between scientist and citizen.

Demonstrates how citizens can use the information gained through a basic research project to benefit both the social scientist and the community being studied. A case study is presented based on the experience of the Neighborhood Participation Project, which studied citizen participation in a racially integrated neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee. After gathering longitudinal data from residents, the researchers embarked on a process of working with a neighborhood agency (Neighborhood Housing Services) and a neighborhood organization (Sunnyside Community Citizens) to give away both the process and content of their research. The case study is presented to highlight some important issues for returning basic research to the community. The authors suggest that creating partnerships and linkages between social scientists and citizens can improve the quality of social science research, enhance the potential for using research, encourage public support for social science research, and help people help themselves. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neighborhood effects on physical and mental health: A study of Korean American older adults.

This study explored how the physical and mental health of Korean American older adults were influenced by neighborhood characteristics (i.e., proportion of individuals living below the poverty level, proportion of individuals 65 years of age and older, and proportion of racial/ethnic minorities in the census block groups where each respondent lived). Health perceptions (i.e., the subjective appraisal of one's own health) and depressive symptoms were used as indicators of physical and mental health. Multilevel analyses were performed with 567 individuals (at Level 1) nested within 233 census block groups (at Level 2). After controlling for individual demographic and health characteristics, we found that neighborhood poverty predicted health perceptions. The results add to the growing literature on the influence of the social environment and suggest that neighborhood characteristics should be taken into consideration in developing community-based policies for racially/ethnically diverse populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural and experiential neighborhood contexts, developmental stage, and antisocial behavior among urban adolescents in poverty

This study explored the effects of structural and experiential neighborhood factors and developmental stage on antisocial behavior, among a sample of poor urban adolescents in New York City. Conceptually and empirically distinct profiles of neighborhood experience were derived from the data, based on measures of perceived neighborhood cohesion, poverty-related hassles, and involvement in neighborhood organizations and activities. Both the profiles of neighborhood experience and a measure of census-tract-level neighborhood hazard (poverty and violence) showed relationships to antisocial behavior. Contrary to expectation, higher levels of antisocial behavior were reported among adolescents residing in moderate-structural-risk neighborhoods than those in high-structural-risk neighborhoods. This effect held only for teens in middle (not early) adolescence and was stronger for teens perceiving their neighborhoods as hassling than for those who did not. Implications for future research and preventive intervention are discussed.     

Social density and perceived control as mediators of crowding stress in high-density residential neighborhoods.

In this study we examined the relation of social density and perceptions of control with stress symptomology in high-density urban environments. We hypothesized that social density and perceived control would account for much of the stress associated with densely populated urban environments. Fifty-seven residents of an urban community participated in this field study. Differences in social density were obtained by comparing residents of blocks with commercial establishments with residents of blocks with no commercial establishments. Questionnaires were used to measure perceived control and neighborhood characteristics including social density. We used a multidimensional stress-measurement strategy that included self-report, behavioral, and biochemical indices. Relative to residents on blocks without stores, residents of blocks with stores reported more crowding, less ability to regulate social interactions, and lower perceptions of control. In addition, they evidenced higher stress levels across domains of measurement, including more somatic and emotional distress and less persistence on a behavioral task, and they showed elevations in urinary catecholamines. Social density and perceived control accounted for a significant amount of the variance in each stress measure. These findings underscore the important role of psychological factors, particularly perceived control, in mediating stress associated with high-density environments. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neighbors for a smoke free north side: evaluation of a community organization approach to promoting smoking cessation among African Americans

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a community organization approach that emphasized involvement of audiences in program planning and implementation in promoting nonsmoking among African American residents of low-income neighborhoods. METHODS: The quasi-experimental design involved a 24-month intervention in 3 low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods in St. Louis. Intervention neighborhoods were compared with comparable, untreated neighborhoods in Kansas City. RESULTS: The program was successful in engaging audience members in its governance and in instigating numerous and diverse neighborhood activities to promote nonsmoking. The prevalence of smoking declined from 34% to 27% in program neighborhoods but only from 34% to 33% in comparison neighborhoods. This difference was apparent within all demographically defined subsamples, indicating that observed changes were consistent and not attributable to confounding by demographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: A community organization approach emphasizing local authority for program decisions and involvement of informal networks may have an appreciable impact on smoking among residents of low-income, African American neighborhoods.     

Neighborhood safety and social involvement: Associations with parenting behaviors and depressive symptoms among African-American and Euro-American mothers.

The relation between neighborhood characteristics and parenting and the mediating role of maternal depressive symptoms was examined among African American and Euro-American mothers of kindergarten children. Mothers' ratings of neighborhood safety were related to disciplinary strategies for both African American and Euro-American mothers but not to expressions of affection. Interviewers' ratings of safety were related to mothers' use of hostile socialization strategies. Both mothers' and interviewers' reports of safety were linked with maternal depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms mediated the relation between neighborhood safety and inconsistent discipline, suggesting that the influence of safety on inconsistent discipline was due to its impact on maternal depression. Although there were similarities across ethnic groups, the relation between social involvement and mothers' withdrawal of interactions with their children differed across groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health status of and access to health services by residents of urban encampments in Los Angeles

This paper reports findings from a survey of 134 homeless people living in 42 urban encampments in central Los Angeles. These data, of concern to public health officials, include the physical conditions in the camps, the health status of residents, their use of drugs and alcohol, and their access to and use of health care services such as substance abuse treatment. Many encampment residents report poor health status; over 30 percent report chronic illnesses, and 40 percent report a substance abuse problem. Although outreach efforts have had success in bringing HIV and tuberculosis screening services to encampments, residents report significant barriers to using primary health care and drug and alcohol treatment services. Public hospitals and clinics remain the major source of primary medical care for homeless people living in encampments. Outreach and case management continue to be critical components of improved access to health care for homeless people.     

My friend is embarrassing me: Exploring the guilty by association effect.

It is contended that people (known here as associates) erroneously believe that their social standing suffers when people with whom they are associated (offenders) act in socially inappropriate ways. Accordingly, the anticipated evaluations of associates and observers were contrasted in 6 studies. Study 1 participants read a second-person scenario from the perspective of an associate or an observer. Associates anticipated that observers would give them less positive ratings when the offender picked his or her nose (versus control), but observers' ratings were unaffected. In Study 2, associates erroneously anticipated that observers' ratings of them would vary systematically as a function of whether or not they were introduced as friends of an offender who had/had not committed academic misconduct. In Study 3, anticipated ratings of associates were negatively affected by the actions of an offender whom they did not know previously. Study 4 showed that perspective-taking is the key to attenuating the effect and reducing feelings of embarrassment. The last 2 studies clarified the role of physical proximity and felt closeness. Consistent with results of a scenario study (Study 5), Study 6 participants' anticipated ratings were negatively affected by a combination of increased physical proximity and felt closeness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)