Browsing by Subject "neighborhood disorder"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Association between Neighborhood Disorder and Hypertension Mediated through Stress
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2013-04-05) Henderson, Francis; Bell, Caryn; Duncan, Alexandra; Furr-Holden, Debra
    This study seeks to understand the relationship between the physical and social neighborhood environment and self-reported hypertension status in order to improve the health of Baltimore City residents. However, the mechanism through which neighborhood disorder is associated with hypertension is unclear. Self-reported hypertension status and demographic information from 711 Baltimore City heads of households from the Windows to Health survey was combined with corresponding neighborhood block order/disorder ratings on the presence of violence, alcohol and other drugs using the Neighborhood Inventory for Environmental Typology (NIfTEy). Regression models were used to test the relationship between (1) neighborhood disorder and hypertension status, (2) neighborhood disorder and stress symptoms (tiredness, headache, and trouble concentrating), and (3) stress symptoms and hypertension status. Results showed a statistically significant association between neighborhood disorder (violence) and stress symptoms (tiredness) after adjusting for age, sex, race, employment status, and highest level of education completed (OR 1.35, CI 1.03-1.77). However, there was no association between neighborhood disorder and hypertension status or stress symptoms and hypertension status. It is possible stress symptoms could be related to other health outcomes. Given the shown relationship between neighborhood disorder and stress symptoms, public health practitioners should design and implement neighborhood level interventions in communities with high levels of disorder in order to improve the health and well-being of residents.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Does neighborhood disorder predict recovery from mobility limitation? Findings from the Health and Retirement Study
    (Sage, 2015-05) Latham, Kenzie; Williams, Monica M.; Department of Sociology, School of Liberal Arts
    Objective: This research explores whether perceptions of physical neighborhood disorder predict recovery from mobility limitation over a 2-year period and examines whether psychosocial factors (i.e., depressive symptomology and mastery) and physical activity are salient mediators. Method: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS): Participant Lifestyle Questionnaire (2008-2010), odds ratio estimates of recovery were ascertained using binary logistic regression, and post hoc Sobel tests were conducted to formally assess mediation. Results: Net of demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status, increased neighborhood disorder was associated with lower odds of recovery. However, both psychosocial indicators and physical activity were significant individual partial mediators, which suggest neighborhood disorder influences recovery from physical impairment via psychosocial processes and barriers to physical activity. Discussion: Reducing neighborhood disorder may enhance older residents’ psychosocial well-being and improve participation in physical activity, thus increasing recovery from mobility limitation and preventing subsequent disability.