BACKGROUND: Neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) may contribute to understanding how neighborhood contexts influence the physical and mental health of residents. PURPOSE: We examined the relation of NSC to self-rated mental and physical health and evaluated the mediating role of NSC on relations between neighborhood socioeconomic status, ethnic composition, and health. METHODS: A sample of 3,098 Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents within 597 census tracts in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona rated their health, psychological distress, and their perceptions of NSC. Census tract estimates provided neighborhood contextual measures. RESULTS: Neighborhood social cohesion was significantly related to better physical and mental health. Both individually rated NSC and neighborhood-level NSC mediated relations between neighborhood contexts and health outcomes. Substantive findings were consistent across Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have implications for improving ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in physical and mental health through attention to social cohesion among neighborhood residents.
BACKGROUND:Neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) may contribute to understanding how neighborhood contexts influence the physical and mental health of residents. PURPOSE: We examined the relation of NSC to self-rated mental and physical health and evaluated the mediating role of NSC on relations between neighborhood socioeconomic status, ethnic composition, and health. METHODS: A sample of 3,098 Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents within 597 census tracts in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona rated their health, psychological distress, and their perceptions of NSC. Census tract estimates provided neighborhood contextual measures. RESULTS:Neighborhood social cohesion was significantly related to better physical and mental health. Both individually rated NSC and neighborhood-level NSC mediated relations between neighborhood contexts and health outcomes. Substantive findings were consistent across Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents. CONCLUSIONS: The findings have implications for improving ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in physical and mental health through attention to social cohesion among neighborhood residents.
Authors: Yamile Molina; Jesse J Plascak; Donald L Patrick; Sonia Bishop; Gloria D Coronado; Shirley A A Beresford Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2016-04-08
Authors: Hailey N Miller; Clifton P Thornton; Tamar Rodney; Roland J Thorpe; Jerilyn Allen Journal: ANS Adv Nurs Sci Date: 2020 Oct/Dec Impact factor: 1.824
Authors: Miguel Ángel Cano; Seth J Schwartz; Linda G Castillo; Andrea J Romero; Shi Huang; Elma I Lorenzo-Blanco; Jennifer B Unger; Byron L Zamboanga; Sabrina E Des Rosiers; Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati; Karina M Lizzi; Daniel W Soto; Assaf Oshri; Juan Andres Villamar; Monica Pattarroyo; José Szapocznik Journal: J Adolesc Date: 2015-04-18