Andrew Steptoe|Pamela J. Feldman
Neighborhood problems as sources of chronic stress: Development of a measure of neighborhood problems, and associations with socioeconomic status and health
University College London|University College London
impact residential neighborhood health wellbeing increasingly recognized behavioral medicine evidence neighborhoodlevel effects independent individual characteristics residents study addressed possibility effects neighborhood due part exposure communitywide stressors rather variations protective factors social capital questionnaire survey including 10item neighborhood problems scale measures selfreported health health behaviors social capital completed 419 residents 18 higher socioeconomic status ses neighborhoods 235 residents 19 lower ses neighborhoods data analyzed using regression multilevel methods neighborhood problem scores greater lower higher ses neighborhoods positively associated individual deprivation negatively correlated social capital neighborhood problems related smoking diet alcohol consumption physical activity however neighborhood problems associated poor selfrated health psychological distress general health questionnaire impaired physical function independent age sex neighborhood ses individual deprivation social capital adjusted odds ratios highest versus lowest neighborhood problem quartiles ranged 205 confidence interval 115369 poor selfrated health 307 163579 impaired physical function results provide preliminary evidence residential neighborhood problems constitute sources chronic stress may increase risk poor health