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Neighborhoods and mental health: Exploring ethnic density, poverty, and social cohesion among Asian Americans and Latinos

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  • Hong, Seunghye
  • Zhang, Wei
  • Walton, Emily

Abstract

This study examines the associations of neighborhood ethnic density and poverty with social cohesion and self-rated mental health among Asian Americans and Latinos. Path analysis is employed to analyze data from the 2002–2003 National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) and the 2000 U.S. Census (N = 2095 Asian Americans living in N = 259 neighborhoods; N = 2554 Latinos living in N = 317 neighborhoods). Findings reveal that neighborhood ethnic density relates to poor mental health in both groups. Social cohesion partially mediates that structural relationship, but is positively related to ethnic density among Latinos and negatively related to ethnic density among Asian Americans. Although higher neighborhood poverty is negatively associated with mental health for both groups, the relationship does not hold in the path models after accounting for social cohesion and covariates. Furthermore, social cohesion fully mediates the association between neighborhood poverty and mental health among Latinos. This study highlights the necessity of reconceptualizing existing theories of social relationships to reflect complex and nuanced mechanisms linking neighborhood structure and mental health for diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Hong, Seunghye & Zhang, Wei & Walton, Emily, 2014. "Neighborhoods and mental health: Exploring ethnic density, poverty, and social cohesion among Asian Americans and Latinos," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 117-124.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:111:y:2014:i:c:p:117-124
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.04.014
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    3. Ling Zhang & Junfeng Jiang & Peigang Wang, 2021. "Social cohesion associated with health mediated by emotional experience and life satisfaction: Evidence from the internal migrants in China," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 1285-1303, June.
    4. Held, Mary Lehman & First, Jennifer M. & Huslage, Melody & Holzer, Marie, 2022. "Policy stress and social support: Mental health impacts for Latinx Adults in the Southeast United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    5. Eileen E. Avery & Joan M. Hermsen & Danielle C. Kuhl, 2021. "Toward a Better Understanding of Perceptions of Neighborhood Social Cohesion in Rural and Urban Places," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 523-541, September.
    6. Vânia Rocha & Ana Isabel Ribeiro & Milton Severo & Henrique Barros & Sílvia Fraga, 2017. "Neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation and health-related quality of life: A multilevel analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, December.
    7. Plascak, Jesse J. & Molina, Yamile & Wu-Georges, Samantha & Idris, Ayah & Thompson, Beti, 2016. "Latino residential segregation and self-rated health among Latinos: Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2012–2014," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 38-47.

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