Neighborhood features and depression in Mexican older adults: A longitudinal analysis based on the study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), waves 1 and 2 (2009-2014)

Abstract

A growing body of literature shows that neighborhood characteristics influence older adults’ mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between structural and social characteristics of the neighborhood, and depression in Mexican older adults. A longitudinal study was conducted based on waves 1 (2009–2010) and 2 (2014) of the Mexican sample from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE). A street-network buffer around each participant’s household was used to define neighborhood, so that built environment and social characteristics were assessed within it. Depression was ascertained by using an algorithm based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. In the analysis, multilevel logistic regression models were constructed separately for each built and social environments measurement, adjusted for socioeconomic, demographic and health-related covariates, and stratified by area of residence (urban versus rural). The results showed that a length of space between 15–45 meters restricted to vehicles was significantly associated with a lower risk of depression in older adults from the urban area (OR: 0.44; IC 95% 0.23–0.83) and the protective association appeared to be larger with increasing space with this restriction, although it lacked significance. Contrarily, the built environment measures were not predictive of depression in the rural setting. On the other hand, none of the variables from the social environment had a significant association, although safety appeared to behave as a risk factor in the overall (OR: 1.48; CI 95% 0.96–2.30; p = 0.08) and rural (OR: 3.44; CI 95% 0.95–12.45; p = 0.06) samples, as it reached marginal significance. Research about neighborhood effects on older adults’ mental health is an emergent field that has shown that depression might be treated not only from the individual-level, but also from the neighborhood-level. Additionally, further research is needed, especially in low- and middle-income countries, to help guide neighborhood policies.

Relationship between neighbourhood cohesion and disability: findings from SWADES population-based survey, Kerala, India

“…Second, since the sample comprised of participants from catchment areas of one state in India, the results cannot be generalised. Third, though the social cohesion scale is extensively used in low and middle income countries ( Kulkarni & Shinde, 2015 ; Fernández-Niño et al , 2019 ; Ramlagan et al , 2013 ), it is yet to be culturally validated in our population. Third, most participants were born in villages and nearly half of the population belonged to the low income category.…”

“…Social cohesion was measured from the inner to the outer social circle of the participants through three items, including trust in neighbours and co-workers, community participation, perceived safety in the participant’s residential neighbourhood and general social trust. These three items were measured using a scale (see below) that has been extensively used in research conducted in low and middle income countries ( Fernández-Niño et al , 2019 ; Kulkarni & Shinde, 2015 ; Ramlagan et al , 2013 ).…”

Factors associated with incidence of depressiveness among the middle-aged and older Estonian population

“…Relative to other findings, the Estonian outcomes are high. 5 , 20 , 32 In line with Western countries, 10 women had double the odds of becoming depressive over the 2-year and 4-year periods.…”

“…However, since controlling for differences in everyday activity limitations eliminated differences in the incidence of depressiveness between people of various ages, we are inclined to interpret the findings in the context of disability – the symptoms of depressiveness in middle and old age may have developed due to obstacles created by activity limitations. 20 , 32 Early prevention and treatment of specific illnesses might help to prevent or alleviate depressiveness later. Removing barriers that prohibit those with everyday activity limitations from fully participating in the life of the community might yield positive results, including increased satisfaction with life, which tends to be especially important for women.…”

Why a New Research Agenda on Green Spaces and Health Is Needed in Latin America: Results of a Systematic Review

“…For the 19 studies included 14 were cross-sectional [ 16 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ], 3 ecological studies [ 30 , 31 , 32 ], and 2 longitudinal cohorts [ 33 , 34 ] ( Figure 2 ). Nine studies were conducted in Brazil [ 16 , 19 , 20 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 33 ], six in Mexico [ 24 , 25 , 31 , 32 , 34 , 35 ], three in Colombia [ 21 , 22 , 23 ], and one in Chile [ 18 ] ( Figure 2 ). The studies were published between 2007 and 2019.…”