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Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and cardiometabolic risk: a gene × environment study.

ABSTRACT: People living in socially cohesive neighborhoods generally have better health. We extend this research by evaluating the hypothesis that perceived neighborhood cohesion may influence health by attenuating genetic liability for cardiometabolic risk factors. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,615; mean age 69.7), we conducted a gene × environment interaction study hypothesizing that perceived neighborhood cohesion would attenuate the link between polygenic scores for waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index and a measure of multisystem cardiometabolic risk (systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP], heart rate, A1c, C-reactive protein, and total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). In support of the hypothesis, results indicated that among people perceiving low neighborhood cohesion, higher WHR polygenic scores were associated with greater cardiometabolic risk. In contrast, the genetic-cardiometabolic risk link was much attenuated among those living in neighborhoods perceived as socially cohesive. Our results support community-level interventions to enhance the social cohesiveness of individuals' neighborhoods which may provide health benefits by reducing the risks associated with known genetic risk factors.

SUBMITTER: Robinette JW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6927540 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and cardiometabolic risk: a gene × environment study.

Robinette Jennifer W JW Boardman Jason D JD Crimmins Eileen E

Biodemography and social biology 20180701 3-4

People living in socially cohesive neighborhoods generally have better health. We extend this research by evaluating the hypothesis that perceived neighborhood cohesion may influence health by attenuating genetic liability for cardiometabolic risk factors. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (<i>n</i> = 6,615; mean age 69.7), we conducted a gene × environment interaction study hypothesizing that perceived neighborhood cohesion would attenuate the link between polygenic scores for wai ...[more]

PMID: 31852333

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Project description:Background and objectivesSocial disconnectedness and loneliness pose significant challenges for older Chinese immigrants. Yet, it remains unclear whether they are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline in this population. This study aimed to investigate the association of social disconnectedness and loneliness with cognitive functioning and examine the moderation role of neighborhood contexts.Research design and methodsThis longitudinal analysis examined a sample of individuals aged 60 years and older from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (N = 2,044). Global cognition was assessed using the averaged z-scores of cognitive performance tests. Social disconnectedness was constructed using 5 indicators about structural aspects of social relationships. Loneliness was assessed with the R-UCLA loneliness scale. Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) and neighborhood segregation index were constructed using 2010-2014 American Community Survey data at the census tract level. Individual perceptions about neighborhood environments were used to construct neighborhood cohesion index and neighborhood disorder index (NDI). Latent growth curve models with adjusted cluster robust standard errors were estimated.ResultsMore loneliness was associated with a higher level of initial cognitive functioning (B = 0.030, p < .01), but also with a faster decline rate over time (B = -0.007, p < .01) after adjusting for covariates. High NSES and less neighborhood segregation buffered the negative effects of loneliness on cognitive decline, respectively. High NDI amplified the positive relationship between loneliness and initial functioning, but accelerated the rate of cognitive decline associated with loneliness.Discussion and implicationsThe study revealed that perceived loneliness, but not social disconnectedness, is a risk factor for cognitive decline among older Chinese immigrants. Living in a neighborhood with low socioeconomic status, more segregation, and high disorder elevated the detrimental effect of loneliness on long-term cognitive decline. Further research needs to investigate the complex interplay between social relationships, neighborhood environment, and cognition.

Project description:BackgroundLittle is known about the associations between perceived neighborhood social environment (PNSE) and depressive symptoms among African Americans. Furthermore, the role of physical activity (PA) as a mediator of this association has not been investigated. The two-fold objectives of this study, therefore, were (1) to examine the associations between PNSE and depressive symptoms among African Americans, and (2) to test the degree to which these associations were mediated by total PA.MethodsWe used baseline data from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), a single-site, prospective, community-based study of African-American adults (n = 2209) recruited from Jackson, Mississippi. PNSE variables included scores for neighborhood violence (i.e., higher score = more violence), problems (higher score = more problems), and social cohesion (higher score = more cohesion). Depressive symptoms were measured by the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) score. First, multilevel modeling, controlling for census tract clustering effects, was used to estimate associations between each PNSE variable and CES-D score, adjusting for covariates, including demographic, health-related, and population density. Second, validated, self-reported total PA, based on active living, sport, and home indices, was tested as the mediator. Multivariable linear regressions with bootstrap-generated 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals (BC CIs) were estimated to test for significant unstandardized indirect effects, controlling for all covariates.ResultsOur participants were 64.2% female with a mean age of 52.6 (SD = 12.2) and a mean CES-D score of 10.8 (SD = 8.1). In the fully-adjusted model, neighborhood violence and problems were positively related to depressive symptoms (B = 3.59, 95%CI = 0.93, 6.26, and B = 3.06, 95%CI = 1.19, 4.93, respectively). Neighborhood violence and problems were also indirectly related to depressive symptoms via total PA (B = 0.26, 95%BC CI = 0.05, 0.55; and B = 0.15, 95%BC CI = 0.02, 0.34, respectively). Social cohesion was neither directly nor indirectly related to depressive symptoms.ConclusionsWe found that higher levels of perceived neighborhood problems and violence were directly and positively associated with depressive symptoms. These associations may be explained in part by lower total PA levels. Future interventions to reduce depressive symptoms attributed to neighborhood features should consider emphasizing built environment features that facilitate PA increases in conjunction with community efforts to reduce neighborhood violence and problems.

Project description:BackgroundGrowing research documents associations between neighborhood social cohesion with better health and well-being. However, other work has identified social cohesion's "dark side" and its ability to promote negative outcomes. It remains unclear if such diverging findings are attributable to differences in study design, or other reasons. To better capture its potential heterogeneous effects, we took an outcome-wide analytic approach to examine perceived neighborhood social cohesion in relation to a range of health and well-being outcomes.MethodsData were from 12,998 participants in the Health and Retirement Study-a large, diverse, prospective, and nationally representative cohort of U.S. adults age >50. Multiple regression models evaluated if social cohesion was associated with physical health, health behavior, psychological well-being, psychological distress, and social well-being outcomes. All models adjusted for sociodemographics, personality, and numerous baseline health and well-being characteristics. To evaluate the effects of change in cohesion, we adjusted for prior social cohesion. Bonferroni correction was used to account for multiple testing.ResultsPerceived neighborhood social cohesion was not associated with most physical health outcomes (except for reduced risk of physical functioning limitations and better self-rated health) nor health behavior outcomes (except for more binge drinking). However, it was associated with numerous subsequent psychosocial well-being (i.e., higher: positive affect, life satisfaction, optimism, purpose in life, mastery, health mastery, financial mastery; reduced likelihood of infrequent contact with friends) and psychological distress outcomes (i.e., lower depression, hopelessness, negative affect, loneliness) over the 4-year follow-up period.ConclusionsWith further research, these results suggest that perceived neighborhood social cohesion might be a valuable target for innovative policies aimed at improving well-being.

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Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and cardiometabolic risk: a gene × environment study.

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Perceived neighborhood social cohesion and cardiometabolic risk: a gene × environment study.

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