Perceived neighborhood social cohesion moderates the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms

Citation

Dawson, Christyl T.; Wu, Wensong; Fennie, Kristopher P.; Ibañez, Gladys; Cano, Miguel Á; Pettit, Jeremy W.; & Trepka, Mary Jo (2019). Perceived neighborhood social cohesion moderates the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms. Health & Place. vol. 56 pp. 88-98

Abstract

There is a dearth of research exploring the moderating role of the social environment on neighborhood structural disadvantage and depressive symptoms, particularly among adolescents. Therefore, we examined if adolescent perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion and safety moderated the association between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). The study sample consisted of 12,105 adolescents enrolled in 9th–12th grades during the 1994–1995 school year across the United States (U.S.). Mixed effects multilevel modeling was used to determine if adolescent perceptions of neighborhoods moderated the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms. Results showed that perceived neighborhood social cohesion moderated the relationship between neighborhood structural disadvantage and adolescent depressive symptoms (p ≤ 0.001). At higher levels of perceived neighborhood social cohesion, neighborhood structural disadvantage was associated with decreased depressive symptoms. Findings suggest that improving perceived neighborhood social cohesion may decrease adolescent depressive symptoms, particularly in neighborhoods with high disadvantage. This aspect of the neighborhood social environment may serve as a target for structural and other interventions to address the growing burden of depression among adolescents.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.01.001

Keyword(s)

Adolescents

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Health & Place

Author(s)

Dawson, Christyl T.
Wu, Wensong
Fennie, Kristopher P.
Ibañez, Gladys
Cano, Miguel Á
Pettit, Jeremy W.
Trepka, Mary Jo

Year Published

2019

Volume Number

56

Pages

88-98

Edition

February 1, 2019

ISSN/ISBN

1353-8292

DOI

10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.01.001

Reference ID

7471