'Money, stress, jobs': residents' perceptions of health-impairing factors in 'poor' neighbourhoods

Health Place. 2007 Sep;13(3):743-56. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2006.12.001. Epub 2007 Feb 8.

Abstract

While the spatial distribution of health and disease is largely associated with individual-level indicators, neighbourhood-level factors appear to exert some independent and mediating influence on health-related processes. This study, conducted in four socio-economically disadvantaged sites in Australia and part of a larger project, analysed residents' perceptions of neighbourhood factors that influence health. Responses identified four key categories of issues that varied across neighbourhood settings. Residents of high-rise towers were more likely than other residents to nominate proximal aspects of the neighbourhood as having a perceived negative influence on health. The findings support other research that suggests that local physical and social environments influence health via psychosocial processes.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Employment / economics
  • Employment / psychology
  • Female
  • Geography
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Housing / classification*
  • Housing / economics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception
  • Poverty Areas*
  • Residence Characteristics / classification*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / economics*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Victoria