title: Effects of living near an urban motorway on the wellbeing of local residents in deprived areas: Natural experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health and wellbeing are partly shaped by the neighbourhood environment. In 2011, an eight kilometre (five mile) extension to the M74 motorway was opened in Glasgow, Scotland, constructed through a predominantly urban, deprived area. We evaluated the effects of the new motorway on wellbeing in local residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This natural experimental study involved a longitudinal cohort (n = 365) and two cross-sectional samples (baseline n = 980; follow-up n = 978) recruited in 2005 and 2013. Adults from one of three study areas-surrounding the new motorway, another existing motorway, or no motorway-completed a postal survey. Within areas, individual measures of motorway proximity were calculated. Wellbeing was assessed with the mental (MCS-8) and physical (PCS-8) components of the SF-8 scale at both time points, and the short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) at follow-up only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariable linear regression analyses, cohort participants living nearer to the new M74 motorway experienced significantly reduced mental wellbeing over time (MCS-8: -3.6, 95% CI -6.6 to -0.7) compared to those living further away. In cross-sectional and repeat cross-sectional analyses, an interaction was found whereby participants with a chronic condition living nearer to the established M8 motorway experienced reduced (MCS-8: -3.7, 95% CI -8.3 to 0.9) or poorer (SWEMWBS: -1.1, 95% CI -2.0 to -0.3) mental wellbeing compared to those living further away.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found some evidence that living near to a new motorway worsened local residents' wellbeing. In an area with an existing motorway, negative impacts appeared to be concentrated in those with chronic conditions, which may exacerbate existing health inequalities and contribute to poorer health outcomes. Health impacts of this type of urban regeneration intervention should be more fully taken into account in future policy and planning.
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit & UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3028-7340
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit & UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.affiliation: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Glasgow Centre for Population Health, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahlqvist
authors.affiliation: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit & UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014186:Transportation; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014506:Urban Renewal