Urban built environment and depression: a multilevel analysis

Abstract

Study objective: To assess the relations between characteristics of the neighbourhood internal and external built environment and past six month and lifetime depression. Design and setting: Depression and sociodemographic information were assessed in a cross sectional survey of residents of New York City (NYC). All respondents were geocoded to neighbourhood of residence. Data on the quality of the built environment in 59 NYC neighbourhoods were collected from the United Status census, the New York City housing and vacancy survey, and the fiscal 2002 New York City mayor's management report. Main results: Among 1355 respondents, residence in neighbourhoods characterised by a poor quality built environment was associated with greater individual likelihood of past six month and lifetime depression in multilevel models adjusting for individual age, race/ethnicity, sex, and income and for neighbourhood level income. In adjusted models, persons living in neighbourhoods characterised by poorer features of the built environment were 29%-58% more likely to report past six month depression and 36%-64% more likely to report lifetime depression than respondents living in neighbourhoods characterised by better features of the built environment. Conclusions: Living in neighbourhoods characterised by a poor quality built environment is associated with a greater likelihood of depression. Future prospective work designed to assess potential mechanisms underlying these associations may guide public health and urban planning efforts aimed at improving population mental health.

Noise Levels Associated with Urban Land Use

“…2 The built environment is now attracting the attention of public and environmental health researchers, as its inherent quality, characteristics, and spatial orientation (i.e., urban sprawl) have been linked both positively (e.g., parks, trails) and negatively (obesity, injuries, stress) to a variety of health outcomes. 3,4 Increasing urbanization has been linked to a rise in the prevalence of health disparities, as well as a growing culture of sedentary living, contributing to the development of several chronic disease outcomes. 5 In efforts to improve urban conditions and enhance human well-being, municipal planning groups have developed and promoted several initiatives, including mixed-use development strategies.…”

Social Determinants of Risk and Outcomes for Cardiovascular Disease

“…[171][172][173] Poor built environments can increase the likelihood of mental health disorders by exposing individuals residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods to daily stressors and inconveniences, social strain, exposure to crime and trauma, and limited access to green space. 174,175 For example, residential environment factors such as crime and low personal safety can lead to the experience of anxiety, which in turn can also affect physical activity. Factors such as deprived and densely populated neighborhoods, social disorganization, and poorquality built environments have shown associations with depression, [175][176][177][178][179] even when neighborhood median income is accounted for.…”

“…174,175 For example, residential environment factors such as crime and low personal safety can lead to the experience of anxiety, which in turn can also affect physical activity. Factors such as deprived and densely populated neighborhoods, social disorganization, and poorquality built environments have shown associations with depression, [175][176][177][178][179] even when neighborhood median income is accounted for. Conversely, higher levels of neighborhood green space in low-income communities have been linked to lower levels of perceived stress and a steeper diurnal decline in cortisol secretion, 180,181 increased social contact, 182 improved mental health, 183,184 and lower all-cause mortality.…”

A Three-Generational Study of Risk Factors for Childhood Externalizing Behavior among African Americans and Puerto Ricans

“…51 Third, our neighborhood crime and deterioration variables were based upon participant perception of aspects of the neighborhood. Future studies might include objective neighborhood measures (e.g., 52 ). Fourth, we did not examine the effect of the marital relationship on the G2 participant, their parenting behavior, or externalizing behavior in the G3 child.…”