Carolyn May Hooper1, Vivienne Chisholm Ivory2, Geoff Fougere3. 1. University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, PO Box 7343, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. Electronic address: carolyn.hooper@otago.ac.nz. 2. University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, PO Box 7343, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. Electronic address: vivienne.ivory@otago.ac.nz. 3. University of Otago, Wellington, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, PO Box 7343, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. Electronic address: geoff.fougere@otago.ac.nz.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: Study purpose The social environment is an important new area in neighbourhoods and health research that complements existing research on the built environment and household characteristics. Through a narrative analysis of the life-stories of 16 women we explored the influence of the neighbourhood social environment on social wellbeing. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: In order for adults to capitalise on local health-enhancing social opportunities they require particular social skills and preferences. We found one way the attainment of those skills and preferences comes about is through the experience of the childhood neighbourhood as a third place, with preferences and practices being carried forward to adulthood, influencing wellbeing through different modes of neighbourly engagement. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: The experience of the childhood neighbourhood as a third place provided the opportunity for establishing a durable, taken-for-granted template of how to do 'neighbourhood'. Without such a template, the benefits to well-being associated with local social connections are difficult to access in adulthood.
UNLABELLED: Study purpose The social environment is an important new area in neighbourhoods and health research that complements existing research on the built environment and household characteristics. Through a narrative analysis of the life-stories of 16 women we explored the influence of the neighbourhood social environment on social wellbeing. PRINCIPAL RESULTS: In order for adults to capitalise on local health-enhancing social opportunities they require particular social skills and preferences. We found one way the attainment of those skills and preferences comes about is through the experience of the childhood neighbourhood as a third place, with preferences and practices being carried forward to adulthood, influencing wellbeing through different modes of neighbourly engagement. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: The experience of the childhood neighbourhood as a third place provided the opportunity for establishing a durable, taken-for-granted template of how to do 'neighbourhood'. Without such a template, the benefits to well-being associated with local social connections are difficult to access in adulthood.
Authors: Melody Oliver; Julia McPhee; Penelope Carroll; Erika Ikeda; Suzanne Mavoa; Lisa Mackay; Robin A Kearns; Marketta Kyttä; Lanuola Asiasiga; Nicholas Garrett; Judy Lin; Roger Mackett; Caryn Zinn; Helen Moewaka Barnes; Victoria Egli; Kate Prendergast; Karen Witten Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2016-08-16 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Mary E Northridge; Susan S Kum; Bibhas Chakraborty; Ariel Port Greenblatt; Stephen E Marshall; Hua Wang; Carol Kunzel; Sara S Metcalf Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2016-10 Impact factor: 3.671