The Power of Place: Social Network Characteristics, Perceived Neighborhood Features, and Psychological Distress Among African Americans in the Historic Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
African American neighborhoods have been historically targeted for urban renewal projects, which impact social composition and resident's health. The Hill District in Pittsburgh, PA is such a neighborhood. This research sought to investigate the extent to which social networks and perceived neighborhood social cohesion and safety were associated with psychological distress among residents in an African American neighborhood undergoing urban renewal, before the implementation of major neighborhood changes. Findings revealed a modest, significant inverse association between social network size and psychological distress (β = -0.006, p < .01), even after controlling for age, employment, education, and income. Perceived neighborhood safety predicted decreased psychological distress (β = -1.438, p < .01), but not social cohesion, which is consistent with past research. Findings suggest that social networks protect against psychological distress, but neighborhood perceptions are also paramount.
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA. kflorez@rand.org.
Karen R
KR
Flórez
RAND Corporation, Arlington, VA, USA.
Madhumita Bonnie
MB
Ghosh-Dastidar
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
Robin
R
Beckman
Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Kayla
K
de la Haye
Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Obidiugwu Kenrik
OK
Duru
Sociomedical Sciences Department, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Ana F
AF
Abraído-Lanza
RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Tamara
T
Dubowitz
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011209:Power, Psychological; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
African Americans; Perceived neighborhood safety; Perceived neighborhood social cohesion; Pittsburgh, PA; Psychological distress