Senior Hispanic adults who perceive their neighborhoods as safer — and thus, more walkable — are also less likely to experience depressive symptoms, according to a study published online in October in the Journal of Aging and Health.
With previous research finding that senior Hispanics face both higher risks for depression as well as greater barriers to treatment, the study’s findings highlight an additional way to positively impact mental health among an already vulnerable population, said study co-author Rosalba Hernandez, PhD, an assistant professor within the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. To conduct the study, Hernandez and her colleagues interviewed Hispanic adults ages 60 and older who were participating in a physical activity intervention at 27 senior centers in the Los Angeles area. Interview data was collected at the start of the study, one year later and at the 24-month mark.
“We had (previously) focused on depressive symptoms and individual factors,” Hernandez told The Nation’s Health. “This time, we were interested in finding other macrosystems that can inform someone’s psychological well-being and if there’s something we can do in a larger context that can alleviate mental health problems, particularly in a population that has a lot of stigma around mental health.”
Among the 570-person study sample, researchers found that nearly 28 percent screened positive for elevated depressive symptoms at the beginning of the study. However, study participants that perceived their neighborhoods as having lower rates of crime and thus greater walkability were at lower odds of experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Higher walkability scores were also “marginally” associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms.
Overall, Hernandez said the study suggests an association between neighborhood walkability and lower incidence of elevated depressive symptoms among senior Hispanics, though she said more research is needed. She added that the physical activity intervention in which the study participants were enrolled might have positively affected mental well-being as well. The study also noted that older age, lower educational attainment and higher acculturation were significantly associated with a higher risk of experiencing elevated depressive symptoms. Among the study sample, about 59 percent had less than or equal to an eighth-grade education, of which about 14 percent had no formal schooling, and just more than 80 percent had incomes below $20,000.
“Further research is needed to see what exactly are the components (that lead to healthier psychological well-being) and what are the mechanisms through which older Hispanic adults feel safer and less isolated,” Hernandez said. “This kind of research may give us a hint as to how to invest in the environment to potentially impact mental health.”
The study authors noted that their findings may help build support for public health interventions aimed at heightening neighborhood safety. Hernandez said the findings also contribute to discussions on how to best serve a population already struggling with significant disparities in health and access to care.
“Hopefully, people will start thinking about how they can incorporate the environmental piece,” she said. “How can we stretch the dollar and still have an impact on a vulnerable community?”
To learn more about the study, visit http://jah.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/10/01/0898264314553211.abstract.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
