Journal
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
Volume 51, Issue 2, Pages 157-163Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.05.006
Keywords
Health; Neighbourhood; Physical environment; Social environment
Funding
- National Prevention Research Initiative [75376]
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Objective. To explore the relative importance of the perceived physical and social neighbourhood environment for physical and mental health. Methods. A representative random sample of adults was recruited from 10 areas across Stoke-on-Trent, UK (June-September 2007). Interview-administered surveys were used to record data on the perceived neighbourhood environment (physical and social), self-reported health, and socio-demographics. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore independent associations between environmental factors and physical and mental health. Results. Independent physical and social environmental factors respectively explained 6.0% and 3.2% of variability in physical health and 2.8% and 4.4% of variability in mental health. Diversity of land use was the strongest and only physical environmental predictor of physical health (Beta = 0.27, p<0.001), explaining more variability than social environmental factors combined. Conversely, social support was the most important (and only) social environmental factor for mental health (Beta = -0.20, p<0.001); again, this explained more variability in mental health than the combined effect of four physical environmental predictors. Conclusion. Perceived physical and social environmental characteristics were important for physical and mental health, independent of socio-demographic factors. Living in neighbourhoods with greater land use diversity appears particularly important for physical health, whereas social support appears more closely linked to mental health. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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