[go: up one dir, main page]
IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0069045.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Objectively Measured Residential Environment and Self-Reported Health: A Multilevel Analysis of UK Census Data

Author

Listed:
  • Frank Dunstan
  • David L Fone
  • Myer Glickman
  • Stephen Palmer
Abstract
Little is known about the association between health and the quality of the residential environment. What is known is often based on subjective assessments of the environment rather than on measurements by independent observers. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the association between self-reported general health and an objectively assessed measure of the residential environment. We studied over 30,000 residents aged 18 or over living in 777 neighbourhoods in south Wales. Built environment quality was measured by independent observers using a validated tool, the Residential Environment Assessment Tool (REAT), at unit postcode level. UK Census data on each resident, which included responses to a question which assessed self-reported general health, was linked to the REAT score. The Census data also contained detailed information on socio-economic and demographic characteristics of all respondents and was also linked to the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation. After adjusting for both the individual characteristics and area deprivation, respondents in the areas of poorest neighbourhood quality were more likely to report poor health compared to those living in areas of highest quality (OR 1.36, 95% confidence interval 1.22–1.49). The particular neighbourhood characteristics associated with poor health were physical incivilities and measures of how well the residents maintained their properties. Measures of green space were not associated with self-reported health. This is the first full population study to examine such associations and the results demonstrate the importance for health of the quality of the neighbourhood area in which people live and particularly the way in which residents behave towards their own and their neighbours’ property. A better understanding of causal pathways that allows the development of interventions to improve neighbourhood quality would offer significant potential health gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Dunstan & David L Fone & Myer Glickman & Stephen Palmer, 2013. "Objectively Measured Residential Environment and Self-Reported Health: A Multilevel Analysis of UK Census Data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-7, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0069045
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069045
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069045
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0069045&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0069045?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Felix Ritchie, 2008. "Secure access to confidential microdata: four years of the Virtual Microdata Laboratory," Economic & Labour Market Review, Palgrave Macmillan;Office for National Statistics, vol. 2(5), pages 29-34, May.
    2. van den Berg, Agnes E. & Maas, Jolanda & Verheij, Robert A. & Groenewegen, Peter P., 2010. "Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1203-1210, April.
    3. O'Reilly, Dermot & Rosato, Michael, 2010. "Dissonances in self-reported health and mortality across denominational groups in Northern Ireland," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(5), pages 1011-1017, September.
    4. Buzzelli, Michael & Su, Jason, 2006. "Multi-level modelling in health research: A caution and rejoinder on temporally mismatched data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(5), pages 1215-1218, March.
    5. Frumkin, H., 2003. "Healthy Places: Exploring the Evidence," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1451-1456.
    6. Fone, David & Dunstan, Frank & Williams, Gareth & Lloyd, Keith & Palmer, Stephen, 2007. "Places, people and mental health: A multilevel analysis of economic inactivity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 633-645, February.
    7. Stafford, M. & Chandola, T. & Marmot, M., 2007. "Association between fear of crime and mental health and physical functioning," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(11), pages 2076-2081.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhenhua Zheng & Hong Chen, 2021. "The Relationship among Community Environment, Behavior, Activity Ability, and Self-Rated Health of Older Adults: A Hierarchical and Multi-Dimensional Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Chongxian Chen & Weijing Luo & Ning Kang & Haiwei Li & Xiaohao Yang & Yu Xia, 2020. "Study on the Impact of Residential Outdoor Environments on Mood in the Elderly in Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Moses Wong & Ruby Yu & Jean Woo, 2017. "Effects of Perceived Neighbourhood Environments on Self-Rated Health among Community-Dwelling Older Chinese," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Zhenhua Zheng & Hong Chen & Liu Yang, 2019. "Transfer of Promotion Effects on Elderly Health with Age: From Physical Environment to Interpersonal Environment and Social Participation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-15, August.
    5. O'Brien, Daniel T. & Farrell, Chelsea & Welsh, Brandon C., 2019. "Broken (windows) theory: A meta-analysis of the evidence for the pathways from neighborhood disorder to resident health outcomes and behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 272-292.
    6. Annemarie Ruijsbroek & Sigrid M. Mohnen & Mariël Droomers & Hanneke Kruize & Christopher Gidlow & Regina Gražulevičiene & Sandra Andrusaityte & Jolanda Maas & Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen & Margarita Trigue, 2017. "Neighbourhood green space, social environment and mental health: an examination in four European cities," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(6), pages 657-667, July.
    7. Wen Zhong & Jian Suo & Xinxin Ren & Guopeng Li, 2021. "The Influence of Emotional Health on the Activity Characteristics of the Elderly and the Selection of Environmental Quality Factors in Residential Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    8. Nuan-Ching Huang & Shiann-Far Kung & Susan C. Hu, 2018. "The Relationship between Urbanization, the Built Environment, and Physical Activity among Older Adults in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Adriana Loureiro & Paula Santana & Carla Nunes & Ricardo Almendra, 2019. "The Role of Individual and Neighborhood Characteristics on Mental Health after a Period of Economic Crisis in the Lisbon Region (Portugal): A Multilevel Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, July.
    10. Zhenhua Zheng & Liu (Lydia) Yang, 2019. "Neighborhood Environment, Lifestyle, and Health of Older Adults: Comparison of Age Groups Based on Ecological Model of Aging," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Badland, Hannah & Whitzman, Carolyn & Lowe, Melanie & Davern, Melanie & Aye, Lu & Butterworth, Iain & Hes, Dominique & Giles-Corti, Billie, 2014. "Urban liveability: Emerging lessons from Australia for exploring the potential for indicators to measure the social determinants of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 64-73.
    2. Hirou Karimi & Mohammad Anvar Adibhesami & Hassan Bazazzadeh & Sahar Movafagh, 2023. "Green Buildings: Human-Centered and Energy Efficiency Optimization Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Francesca Cornaglia & Naomi E. Feldman & Andrew Leigh, 2014. "Crime and Mental Well-Being," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 49(1), pages 110-140.
    4. Natalia Hanley & Leah Ruppanner, 2015. "Understanding the Effects of Crime on Women: Fear and Well-Being in the Context of Diverse Relationships," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Allison Williams & Peter Kitchen, 2012. "Sense of Place and Health in Hamilton, Ontario: A Case Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(2), pages 257-276, September.
    6. Kay Fretwell & Alison Greig, 2019. "Towards a Better Understanding of the Relationship between Individual’s Self-Reported Connection to Nature, Personal Well-Being and Environmental Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, March.
    7. Stefan Bender, 2014. "Datenzugang in Deutschland: Der Paradigmenwechsel hat bereits stattgefunden," AStA Wirtschafts- und Sozialstatistisches Archiv, Springer;Deutsche Statistische Gesellschaft - German Statistical Society, vol. 8(4), pages 237-248, November.
    8. Niedzwiedz, Claire L. & Thomson, Katie H. & Bambra, Clare & Pearce, Jamie R., 2020. "Regional employment and individual worklessness during the Great Recession and the health of the working-age population: Cross-national analysis of 16 European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    9. Bertram, Christine & Rehdanz, Katrin, 2015. "The role of urban green space for human well-being," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 139-152.
    10. Su Jin Kang & Wonseok Seo, 2020. "The Effects of Multilayered Disorder Characteristics on Fear of Crime in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-22, December.
    11. Somajita Paul & Harini Nagendra, 2017. "Factors Influencing Perceptions and Use of Urban Nature: Surveys of Park Visitors in Delhi," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, April.
    12. Alloush, Mo & Bloem, Jeffrey R., 2022. "Neighborhood violence, poverty, and psychological well-being," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. Asifa Iqbal & Tahira Shaukat & Humaira Nazir, 2024. "Safety Perceptions and Micro-Segregation: Exploring Gated- and Non-Gated-Community Dynamics in Quetta, Pakistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, May.
    14. Rosenbaum, Mark S. & Otalora, Mauricio Losada & Ramírez, Germán Contreras, 2016. "The restorative potential of shopping malls," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 157-165.
    15. Maule, Becky & Pugh, Alice, 2012. "Do inflation expectations currently pose a risk to the economy?," Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, Bank of England, vol. 53(1), pages 110-121.
    16. De Clercq, B. & Vyncke, V. & Hublet, A. & Elgar, F.J. & Ravens-Sieberer, U. & Currie, C. & Hooghe, M. & Ieven, A. & Maes, L., 2012. "Social capital and social inequality in adolescents’ health in 601 Flemish communities: A multilevel analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(2), pages 202-210.
    17. Völker, Sebastian & Kistemann, Thomas, 2013. "Reprint of: “I'm always entirely happy when I'm here!” Urban blue enhancing human health and well-being in Cologne and Düsseldorf, Germany," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 141-152.
    18. Siqi Lai & Brian Deal, 2022. "Parks, Green Space, and Happiness: A Spatially Specific Sentiment Analysis Using Microblogs in Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    19. Kuen, Kiseong & Weisburd, David & White, Clair & Hinkle, Joshua C., 2022. "Examining impacts of street characteristics on residents' fear of crime: Evidence from a longitudinal study of crime hot spots," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    20. David M. Wright & Michael Rosato & Dermot O’Reilly, 2017. "Which long-term illnesses do patients find most limiting? A census-based cross-sectional study of 340,000 people," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 62(8), pages 939-947, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0069045. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.