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Neighborhood Social Environment and Body Mass Index: The Mediating Role of Mental Wellbeing

Author

Listed:
  • Shayna D. Cunningham

    (Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA)

  • Jennifer Mandelbaum

    (Department of Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA)

  • Fatma M. Shebl

    (Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
    Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Mark Abraham

    (DataHaven, New Haven, CT 06511, USA)

  • Kathleen O’Connor Duffany

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA)

Abstract
The association between neighborhood-built environment and body mass index (BMI) is well-characterized, whereas fewer studies have explored the mechanisms underlying the relationship between neighborhood social environment and obesogenic behaviors. Using data from a random sample of 16,820 residents ≥18 years from all 169 Connecticut towns and seven ZIP Codes in New York, this study examines the influence of neighborhood social environment on residents’ mental wellbeing, physical activity, and BMI. Structural equation modeling was conducted to estimate direct and indirect effects of neighborhood social environment on BMI, using mental wellbeing and physical activity as intermediate variables. There were significant total [β(SE) = 0.741 (0.170), p < 0.0001], direct [β(SE) = 0.456 (0.1890), p = 0.016], and indirect [β(SE) = 0.285 (0.061), p < 0.0001] effects of neighborhood social environment on BMI. Low physical activity was a partial mediator of the effect of non-favorable neighborhood social environment on BMI [β(SE) = −0.071 (0.011), p < 0.0001]. The association between neighborhood social environment and BMI was also mediated by mental wellbeing [β(SE) = 0.214 (0.060), p < 0.0001], and by mental wellbeing through physical activity [β(SE) = 0.071 (0.011), p < 0.0001]. Study findings provide further support for building strong social environments to improve population health and suggest that strategies prioritizing mental wellbeing may benefit behavioral interventions aimed at reducing obesity risk and should be a focus of prevention efforts in and of itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Shayna D. Cunningham & Jennifer Mandelbaum & Fatma M. Shebl & Mark Abraham & Kathleen O’Connor Duffany, 2023. "Neighborhood Social Environment and Body Mass Index: The Mediating Role of Mental Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-12, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:16:p:6602-:d:1220125
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McNeill, Lorna Haughton & Kreuter, Matthew W. & Subramanian, S.V., 2006. "Social Environment and Physical activity: A review of concepts and evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 1011-1022, August.
    2. Stafford, Mai & Cummins, Steven & Ellaway, Anne & Sacker, Amanda & Wiggins, Richard D. & Macintyre, Sally, 2007. "Pathways to obesity: Identifying local, modifiable determinants of physical activity and diet," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1882-1897, November.
    3. Kim, Daniel & Subramanian, S.V. & Gortmaker, Steven L. & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2006. "US state- and county-level social capital in relation to obesity and physical inactivity: A multilevel, multivariable analysis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 1045-1059, August.
    4. Christopher Barrington-Leigh & Jan T. Wollenberg, 2019. "Informing Policy Priorities using Inference from Life Satisfaction Responses in a Large Community Survey," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 14(4), pages 911-924, September.
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