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Perceived Neighborhood Environment Affecting Physical and Mental Health: A Study with Korean American Older Adults in New York City

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Abstract

This study examined how subjective perceptions of the neighborhood environment (e.g., perceived ethnic density, safety, social cohesion, and satisfaction) influenced the physical and mental health of Korean American older adults. Using data from 420 residents of the New York City metropolitan area (M age = 71.6, SD = 7.59), health perceptions and depressive symptoms were estimated with hierarchical regression models entered in the order of (1) demographics and acculturation, (2) health-related variables, and (3) perceived neighborhood environment. After controlling for the effects of the individual-level variables, perceived neighborhood environment was found to make a significant contribution to both outcomes. Individuals less satisfied with their overall neighborhood environment were more likely to have negative perceptions of health and depressive symptoms. A strong linkage between perceived neighborhood safety and depressive symptoms was also observed. Findings from the study highlight the importance of subjective evaluations of neighborhood environment and provide implications for health promotion.

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Acknowledgment

The project was supported by a grant from the Advanced Research Institute in Geriatric Mental Health (R25MH068502; PI—Martha Bruce, Ph.D.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA

    Soonhee Roh

  2. Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 13301 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL, 33612, USA

    Yuri Jang, David A. Chiriboga & Kyung Hwa Kwag

  3. Hunter College, School of Nursing, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Sunhee Cho & Kunsook Bernstein

Authors
  1. Soonhee Roh
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  2. Yuri Jang
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  3. David A. Chiriboga
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  4. Kyung Hwa Kwag
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  5. Sunhee Cho
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  6. Kunsook Bernstein
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Correspondence to Yuri Jang.

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Roh, S., Jang, Y., Chiriboga, D.A. et al. Perceived Neighborhood Environment Affecting Physical and Mental Health: A Study with Korean American Older Adults in New York City. J Immigrant Minority Health 13, 1005–1012 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9492-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-011-9492-3

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