Mothers' Perceptions of Positive and Negative Neighborhood Characteristics: Findings from a photovoice project

Research connecting neighborhoods and health has characterized neighborhood factors in multiple ways. This chapter discusses standard and emerging methods to measure and study neighborhood characteristics. In particular, this chapter provides an overview of neighborhood characteristic assessment methods, including self-report, systematic social observation, geographic information system (GIS) methods, Web-based geospatial methods, real-time geospatial methods, crowd-sourced geospatial methods, and information retrieval methods from online sources such as Instagram and Twitter. This chapter also discusses the strengths and limitations of each neighborhood characteristic assessment method (e.g., ease of administration, validity), and readers are provided with examples of each neighborhood assessment method applied in the epidemiology and population health literature.

Download Full-text

Location, Location, Location: The Role of Objective Neighborhood Characteristics for Perceptions of Control

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000515634 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Johanna Drewelies ◽

Peter Eibich ◽

Sandra Düzel ◽

Simone Kühn ◽

Christian Krekel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Internal Control ◽

Reference Model ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Beliefs ◽

External Control ◽

Neighborhood Characteristics ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Residential Areas ◽

Age Related ◽

Self Report Data

Introduction: Control beliefs can protect against age-related declines in functioning. It is unclear whether neighborhood characteristics shape how much control people perceive over their life. This article studies associations of neighborhood characteristics with control beliefs of residents of a diverse metropolitan area (Berlin, Germany). Methods: We combine self-report data about perceptions of control obtained from participants in the Berlin Aging Study II (N = 507, 60–87 years, 51% women) with multisource geo-referenced indicators of neighborhood characteristics using linear regression models. Results: Findings indicate that objective neighborhood characteristics (i.e., unemployment rate) are indeed tied to perceptions of control, in particular, how much control participants feel others have over their lives. Including neighborhood characteristics in part doubled the amount of explained variance compared with a reference model covarying for demographic characteristics only (from R2 = 0.017 to R2 = 0.030 for internal control beliefs; R2 = 0.056 to R2 = 0.102 for external control beliefs in chance; R2 = 0.006 to R2 = 0.030 for external control beliefs in powerful others). Discussion/Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of access to neighborhood resources for control beliefs across old age and can inform interventions to build up neighborhood characteristics which might be especially helpful in residential areas with high unemployment.

Download Full-text

Perception of Neighborhood Characteristics During Childhood and Cognitive Health Among Older Adults in China

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1419 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 439-439

Author(s):

Changmin Peng ◽

Sae Hwang Han ◽

Jeffrey Burr

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Later Life ◽

Neighborhood Characteristics ◽

Neighborhood Safety ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Childhood Conditions ◽

Neighborhood Environments

Abstract Neighborhood environments shape the availability of resources for social engagement and social interaction, which are associated with better health outcomes. However, these contextual factors are also considered sources of potential social distress and tension, increasing the risk of subsequent health deficits, including cognitive decline. Our understanding of the linkage between childhood neighborhood environments and cognitive functioning in later life is limited. This study employed three waves of nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015; N = 11,105) to investigate the relationship between self-reported neighborhood social cohesion during childhood (i.e., neighborhood safety, neighbors willing to help, and close-knit neighborhood) and cognitive functioning (Chinese version of TICS). We employed latent growth curve modeling to test hypotheses relating to life course models of childhood conditions and later life cognitive functioning (the long arm of childhood). The results showed that perceptions regarding the willingness of neighbors to help and close-knit neighborhood characteristics during childhood were positively associated with levels of later life cognitive function. Further, growing up in a neighborhood characterized by the willingness of neighbors to help others was negatively associated with the rate of cognitive decline, net of childhood and adulthood covariates. Self-report of neighborhood safety during childhood was unrelated to cognitive function (level and change). These findings underscored the long-term ramifications of childhood conditions as potential risk factors for later-life cognitive health. Social cohesion at the neighborhood level as experienced during childhood may be a protective factor for healthy cognitive aging among older Chinese adults.

Download Full-text