Neighborhood Characteristics Influence Older Adults' Health and Mental Health Outcomes

Chair(s)

• 

  Weidi Qin, PhD, MSW, MPH

  Postdoc
  Population Studies Center
  University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

  Slides

Discussant(s)

• 

  Weidi Qin, PhD, MSW, MPH

  Postdoc
  Population Studies Center
  University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

  Slides

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Keith Chan, Phd, LMSW

  Assistant Professor
  Silberman School of Social Work
  Hunter College, City University of New York
  New York City, New York, United States
• TP

  Tam Perry, MSSW, MA, PhD

  Associate Professor
  Social Work
  Wayne State University
  Detroit, Michigan, United States
• 

  Yanping Jiang, PhD

  Instructor
  Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research
  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
  New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States
• 

  Weidi Qin, PhD, MSW, MPH

  Postdoc
  Population Studies Center
  University of Michigan
  Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

  Slides

Both social and physical aspects of neighborhood characteristics are related to a wide range of health and mental health outcomes. There has been increasing evidence pointing to the link between neighborhood-level factors and health among older adults. Specifically, older adults living in disadvantaged neighborhoods with under-resourced infrastructure may experience more daily activity limitations, mental health symptoms, and increased morbidity and mortality. Positive aspects of the neighborhood, such as social cohesion, may serve as a social capital resource and protect against adverse health outcomes. On the contrary, negative aspects of the neighborhood, such as physical disorder, can be a substantial stressor leading to poor health. The neighborhood environment also disproportionally affects racial and ethnic minorities in the US. This symposium session will present four studies exploring important topics related to neighborhood factors of health among older adults. Collectively, the findings will inform neighborhood-level interventions to promote health and well-being among community-dwelling older adults. This session will start with a talk by Dr. Chan on the link between neighborhood and disability across six ethnic groups of older Asian Americans residing in New York City. Dr. Perry will present a qualitative study to explore the environmental and infrastructure challenges in the neighborhood from the perspective of older adults in Detroit. This will be followed by Dr. Jiang’s talk on the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and mortality among a sample of older Chinese in Chicago. Finally, the session will conclude with Dr. Qin’s presentation on how neighborhood characteristics affect older adults’ mental health trajectories.

Presentations:

• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Ethnic and Neighborhood Differences in Poverty and Disability Among Older Asian Americans in New York City
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Keith T. Chan, Phd, LMSW – Hunter College, City University of New York
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Underexplored Solutions in Detroit's Neighborhoods: The Importance of Legacy to Address Environmental Concerns
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Tam E. Perry, MSSW, MA, PhD – Wayne State University
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Neighborhood Cohesion, Living Alone, and All-Cause Mortality in Community-Dwelling Older Chinese Americans
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Yanping Jiang, PhD – Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Neighborhood Characteristics and Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms and Anxiety
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Weidi Qin, PhD, MSW, MPH – University of Michigan