Examining neighborhood effects among survivors of health-related events

Abstract

To date, scientists have examined how neighborhoods impact health related to mental illness (Hurd, Stoddard, & Zimmerman, 2013), obesity rates (Pruchno, Wilson-Genderson, & Gupta, 2014), and cancer rates (Beyer, Malecki, Hoormann, Szabo, & Nattinger, 2016). Studies have revealed that neighborhood disadvantage predicts stroke risk and incidence (Brown et al., 2011) and increases incident of ischemic stroke (Boden-Albala et al., 2012). The purpose of this project is to examine the moderating effects of neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage in the relationship between stroke and activities of daily living (ADL). This study employs a longitudinal design with data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. MIDUS began in 1994 and is a national longitudinal study of health and aging that includes a wide range of measures, including medical history, health status, physical limitations, demographic variables related to socioeconomic status, social support, employment status, health care utilization, as well as additional variables. Data from waves 1 and 2 are used in this analysis. Results support the hypothesis that neighborhood disadvantage identified through low SES moderates the relationship between stroke and ADLs and these findings remain consistent when introducing competing moderators and their interactions. Findings support the need for continued neighborhood-level support for individuals re-entering their communities following a stroke. In addition, findings imply the need for more informed public policy that will support neighborhood environments for sustained rehab outcomes.