Workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes and sitting at work and for transport among Japanese desk-based workers

Workplace settings—both internal and external—can influence how workers are physically active or sedentary. Although research has identified some indoor environmental attributes associated with sitting at work, few studies have examined associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with workplace sitting time. We examined the cross-sectional associations of perceived and objective workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time at work and for transport among desk-based workers in Japan. Data were collected from a nationwide online survey. The Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (n = 2137) and Walk Score® (for a subsample of participants; n = 1163) were used to assess perceived and objective built-environment attributes of workplace neighbourhoods. Self-reported daily average sitting time at work, in cars and in public transport was measured using a Japanese validated questionnaire. Linear regression models estimated the associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time. All perceived workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes were positively correlated with Walk Score®. However, statistically significant associations with Walk Score® were found for sitting for transport but not for sitting at work. Workers who perceived their workplace neighbourhoods to be more walkable reported a longer time sitting at work and in public transport but a shorter sitting time in cars. Our findings suggest that walkable workplace neighbourhoods may discourage longer car use but have workplaces where workers spend a long time sitting at work. The latter finding further suggests that there may be missed opportunities for desk-based workers to reduce sitting time. Future workplace interventions to reduce sitting time may be developed, taking advantage of the opportunities to take time away from work in workplace neighbourhoods.

When Post-Incarcerated Individuals Return to High-Risk Neighborhoods: Staying Out of Trouble, Social Withdrawal, and Mental Health

Studies show that residents from urban, high-risk neighborhoods fair worse on multiple behavioral and health outcomes than their counterparts from more socially and economically advantaged neighborhoods. However, few research efforts have been devoted to examining how formerly incarcerated individuals’ concerns over neighborhood environment are associated with reentry outcomes. Using longitudinal data that captured the reentry experiences of individuals released from prison, the present study quantifies how returning citizens’ concerns over neighborhood environment predict their social withdrawal and mental health deterioration. Findings suggest that when respondents’ post-release family bonds, financial difficulty, drug use, and past mental health histories are all taken into account, their concerns over neighborhood environment exert a significant and positive effect on social withdrawal, depression, and hostility. Returning citizens who believe it is hard to stay out of trouble and prison in their neighborhoods tend to avoid social interactions with others and experience depression and increased hostility and vigilance. Implications for reentry programing and interventions are discussed.

How Does Crime-Specific Victimization Impact Fear of Crime in Urban China? The Role of Neighborhood Characteristics

Past research has failed to find consistent relationships between criminal victimization and fear of crime. Except for neighborhood disorder and crime rate, few studies have examined whether other neighborhood conditions matter the victimization—fear relationship. Using survey data in Guangzhou neighborhoods, the present analysis employs multinomial logistic regression models to examine whether neighborhood characteristics moderate the relationship between violent victimization and fear of violence, and between burglary victimization and fear of burglary, separately. Some aspects of the neighborhood environment do differentially influence victims’ and non-victims’ fear levels. Besides verifying the interaction effect of neighborhood disorder and victimization, the present study finds that neighborhood policing alleviates the harmful effect of violent victimization on fear, while collective efficacy fosters the harmful effect of burglary victimization on fear. This paper underscores the significance of the social context of urban China in explaining the interplay of neighborhood characteristics and victimization on fear of crime.

Perceived Discrimination, Social Environment, and Older Adults’ Psychological Well-Being

Experiencing discrimination can have detrimental effects on psychological well-being. For older adults in the U.S., discrimination on the basis of country of origin may be a particularly alienating experience. A positive social environment, however, has been shown to buffer associations between discrimination and poorer psychological well-being. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in a sample of older Americans who perceive discrimination because of country of origin. As the United States continues to diversify and politically polarize, understanding older adults’ experiences with discrimination and identifying potential buffers to these negative effects is increasingly important. We analyze 942 older Americans (aged 50+) from the Psychosocial Module of the most recent wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2020). Specifically, we analyze associations between perceived discrimination on the basis of country of origin and three psychological well-being outcomes: loneliness, anxiety, and life satisfaction. We further test if the social environment buffers negative effects by examining interactions between discrimination and social support as well as discrimination and neighborhood environment. Our results reveal clear and consistent associations between older adults’ perceived discrimination and increased loneliness and decreased life satisfaction. These negative associations, however, appear to be buffered by social support and positive neighborhood environment, respectively. The potential buffering effect of positive social environments on psychological well-being is particularly pronounced for older adults under the age of 65. We discuss these findings in light of the prevalence of discrimination in the U.S. and consider potential mechanisms for improving the social environment of older adults.

Residential Environment, Depressive Symptoms, and Anxiety Symptoms Among Community-Living Older Adults

Past literature has suggested significant relationships between neighborhood environment and mental health of older adults. However, the effect of residential environments is underexplored. The present study aims to study: (Q1) how residential built environments are associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among community-living older adults, and (Q2) whether the associations of their physical and cognitive health status with mental health vary by residential environments. We analyzed data from Round 9 of National Health and Aging Trends Study. Residential environments were indicated by home despair, cluttered home, and existence of entrance ramp. Covariates included age, gender, race, living arrangement, ADL limitations, physical capacity, and cognitive status. The logistic regression results show that higher levels of clutter at home and the lack of entrance ramp were significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and that levels of clutter were positively associated with anxiety symptoms. Residential environments significantly moderated the association between physical health and mental health. With similar physical capacity, older adults with higher levels of home despair and clutter had more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Older adults who had more cluttered home reported significantly higher levels of anxiety than those who had similar ADL limitations, but lived in a less cluttered housing environment. However, we didn’t find any moderating effect of residential environments on cognitive impairment and mental health. Our findings promote the necessity for practitioners and policymakers to consider the effect of residential environments on mental health among both physically healthy and impaired older adults in the United States.