Neighborhood environment, social mobility, and health: A longitudinal examination of individual and neighborhood factors

Background. Characteristics of the neighborhood physical and social environment have been associated with a range of physical and psychological health outcomes. There have been few neighborhood and social mobility studies that have longitudinally assessed the relationship between environment and health.;Purpose. The main goal of the dissertation was to better understand the relationship between neighborhood environment and physical and mental well-being. To help accomplish this goal, two specific aims were developed: 1) To examine the relationship between neighborhood contexts and individual health; and 2) To assess the impact of social mobility on individual health. In addition, there was further examination of how neighborhood contexts at different points of the life course might affect adult health outcomes.;Methods. The individual data came from the Woodlawn Study, a longitudinal epidemiological community study that began in 1966-1967 of a cohort of first graders and their mothers living in the Woodlawn community of Chicago. The first graders were assessed at three other time points: as adolescents in 1976, as young adults in 1992, and as mid-life adults in 2002. Area level data were drawn from the 1980, 1990, and 2000 US Census (corresponding to the Woodlawn assessments). Multivariate regression models using generalized estimating equations were utilized to estimate the models.;Main findings. Neighborhood effects on health were found. Adolescent and young adult neighborhood disadvantage were related to young adult anxiety. Young neighborhood poverty was also related to young adult smoking status. Young adult and midlife neighborhood disadvantage were related to midlife smoking status. Those who experienced downward social mobility between young adulthood and midlife were also more likely to be current smokers in midlife. In midlife, subjective assessments of the neighborhood physical and social environment were related to anxiety and self-reported health.;Significance. By using both a longitudinal approach and multiple measures of the neighborhood environment in addition to addressing the effects of social mobility on health, this study will help contribute to the current body of research on neighborhoods and health. The findings from the study may help identify potential interventions and inform decisions regarding neighborhood and housing policies.