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18-12-2024 | Original Article

Where you live matters: examining associations between neighborhood perceptions and allostatic load in an aging population

Authors: Marcus R. Andrews, Amy J. Schulz, Roshanak Mehdipanah

Published in: Journal of Public Health

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Abstract

Aim

Neighborhood perceptions of various conditions may impact health, including allostatic load. Research around the impacts of neighborhood perceptions on allostatic load over time among aging populations remains understudied.

Subject and methods

We conducted linear regressions to examine the association between neighborhood perceptions of social cohesion and physical disorder on allostatic load four years later using the Health and Retirement Survey.

Results

We examined a significant relationship between perceived neighborhood physical disorder and allostatic load (B = 0.05; p < 0.05), but not for perceived neighborhood social cohesion (B = -0.03; p = 0.17).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that adults aged 50 and older who age in place and who report higher levels of perceived neighborhood disorder may experience heightened allostatic load, compared with those who report lower levels of perceived neighborhood disorder. Self-reported neighborhood social cohesion was not significantly associated with allostatic load and, therefore, may not protect against the adverse health impact of perceived neighborhood disorder.
Literature
go back to reference Andrews M, Ceasar J, Tamura K, Langerman S, Mitchell V, Collins B, … Powell-Wiley T (2020) Neighborhood environment perceptions associate with depression levels and cardiovascular risk among middle-aged and older adults: data from the Washington, DC cardiovascular health and needs assessment. Aging Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1793898 Andrews M, Ceasar J, Tamura K, Langerman S, Mitchell V, Collins B, … Powell-Wiley T (2020) Neighborhood environment perceptions associate with depression levels and cardiovascular risk among middle-aged and older adults: data from the Washington, DC cardiovascular health and needs assessment. Aging Mental Health. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1080/​13607863.​2020.​1793898
go back to reference Bell JA, Hamer M, Shankar A (2014) Gender-specific associations of objective and perceived neighborhood characteristics with body mass index and waist circumference among older adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Am J Public Health 104(7):1279-86. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2014.301947 Bell JA, Hamer M, Shankar A (2014) Gender-specific associations of objective and perceived neighborhood characteristics with body mass index and waist circumference among older adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Am J Public Health 104(7):1279-86. https://​doi.​org/​10.​2105/​AJPH.​2014.​301947
Metadata
Title
Where you live matters: examining associations between neighborhood perceptions and allostatic load in an aging population
Authors
Marcus R. Andrews
Amy J. Schulz
Roshanak Mehdipanah
Publication date
18-12-2024
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Journal of Public Health
Print ISSN: 2198-1833
Electronic ISSN: 1613-2238
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-024-02384-y