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Effect of neighbourhood deprivation and social cohesion on mental health inequality: a multilevel population-based longitudinal study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2014

D. Fone ,
J. White ,
D. Farewell ,
M. Kelly ,
G. John ,
K. Lloyd ,
G. Williams  and
F. Dunstan
D. Fone*
Affiliation:
Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
J. White
Affiliation:
Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Public Health Interventions, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
D. Farewell
Affiliation:
Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
M. Kelly
Affiliation:
Institute for Translation, Innovation, Methodology and Engagement, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
G. John
Affiliation:
NHS Wales Informatics Service, Cardiff, Wales, UK
K. Lloyd
Affiliation:
College of Medicine, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK
G. Williams
Affiliation:
School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
F. Dunstan
Affiliation:
Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: D. Fone, Professor of Health Sciences Research, Institute of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, Wales, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The common mental disorders (CMDs) of anxiety and depression are the most common form of poor mental health in the general population. Evidence from the small number of previous cohort studies on the role of neighbourhood factors in mental health is inconclusive. We tested the hypothesis that high levels of neighbourhood social cohesion modify an adverse association between change in individual mental health and neighbourhood deprivation.

Method

We carried out a longitudinal multilevel analysis using data from the Caerphilly Health and Social Needs Cohort Study with a 7-year follow-up (n = 4426; age range 18–74 years at baseline). Neighbourhood deprivation and neighbourhood social cohesion were assessed at baseline and change in mental health between follow-up and baseline was assessed using the five-item Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5).

Results

Residence in the most deprived neighbourhoods was negatively associated with change in mental health, after adjusting for baseline individual socio-economic risk factors and transitions in life events. This negative effect was significantly reduced in high social cohesion neighbourhoods. The predicted change in mental health score was calculated for the 10th and 90th centiles of the household low-income distribution. The difference between them was −2.8 in the low social cohesion group and 1.1 in the high cohesion group. The difference between the groups was 3.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2–7.6].

Conclusions

The public health burden of poor mental health and mental health inequality could potentially be reduced by strengthening social cohesion in deprived neighbourhoods. This offers a mechanism to address the adverse effect of neighbourhood deprivation on population mental health.

Keywords

Epidemiologylongitudinal studiesmental healthsocial environmentsocial medicine
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 44 , Issue 11 , August 2014 , pp. 2449 - 2460
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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