Objective: This study aims to examine the association between neighborhood disorder with self-neglect among a community-dwelling Chinese American older population. Method: Data were extracted from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE), a cross-sectional study of 3,157 participants living in the greater Chicago area. Self-neglect was assessed with systematic observations of participants' personal and home environment. Neighborhood disorder was measured through eight questions. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between neighborhood disorder and self-neglect. Results: After adjusting for potential confounding factors, every one point higher in neighborhood disorder score was significantly associated with greater risk for overall self-neglect (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, [1.11, 1.16]), mild self-neglect (OR = 1.14, [1.11, 1.17]), and moderate/severe self-neglect (OR = 1.12, [1.09, 1.16]). Regarding the phenotypes of self-neglect, every one point higher in neighborhood disorder score was significantly associated with greater risk for hoarding (OR = 1.17, [1.14, 1.20]), personal hygiene (OR = 1.15, [1.12, 1.19]), house in need of repair (OR = 1.12, [1.10, 1.15]), unsanitary conditions (OR = 1.12, [1.09, 1.15]), and inadequate utilities (OR = 1.10, [1.05, 1.15]). Discussion: This study underscores the significant association between disordered neighborhood and greater risk of self-neglect among Chinese American older adults. Improving neighborhood disorder problems could benefit for elder self-neglect prevention.
Keywords: Chinese American; neighborhood disorder; older adults; self-neglect.