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Trajectories of childhood neighbourhood cohesion and adolescent mental health: evidence from a national Canadian cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2015

M. Kingsbury ,
J. B. Kirkbride ,
S. E. McMartin ,
M. E. Wickham ,
M. Weeks  and
I. Colman
M. Kingsbury
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
J. B. Kirkbride
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
S. E. McMartin
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
M. E. Wickham
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
M. Weeks
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
I. Colman*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
*
* Address for correspondence: I. Colman, Ph.D., Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, RGN 3230C, Ottawa, ON, CanadaK1H 8M5. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Background

The objective of this study was to examine associations between trajectories of childhood neighbourhood social cohesion and adolescent mental health and behaviour.

Method

This study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a nationally representative sample of Canadian children. The sample included 5577 children aged 0–3 years in 1994–1995, prospectively followed until age 12–15 years. Parental perceived neighbourhood cohesion was assessed every 2 years. Latent growth class modelling was used to identify trajectories of neighbourhood cohesion. Mental health and behavioural outcomes were self-reported at age 12–15 years. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between neighbourhood cohesion trajectories and outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Five distinct trajectories were identified: ‘stable low’ (4.2%); ‘moderate increasing’ (9.1%); ‘stable moderate’ (68.5%); ‘high falling’ (8.9%); and ‘stable high’ (9.3%). Relative to those living in stable moderately cohesive neighbourhoods, those in stable low cohesive neighbourhoods were more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety/depression [odds ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–2.90] and engage in indirect aggression (OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.07–2.45). Those with improvements in neighbourhood cohesion had significantly lower odds of hyperactivity (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.46–0.98) and indirect aggression (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.49–0.96). In contrast, those with a decline in neighbourhood cohesion had increased odds of hyperactivity (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.21–2.29). Those in highly cohesive neighbourhoods in early childhood were more likely to engage in prosocial behaviour (‘high falling’: OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.38–2.69; ‘stable high’: OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.35–2.63).

Conclusions

These results suggest that neighbourhood cohesion in childhood may have time-sensitive effects on several domains of adolescent mental health and behaviour.

Keywords

Behaviour problemsmental healthneighbourhood cohesionsocial environmentyouth
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 45 , Issue 15 , November 2015 , pp. 3239 - 3248
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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