Neighborhood perception and depressive symptoms: the ELSI-Brasil national study, 2015-2016

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Urban Health
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Depressive symptoms are a significant concern for older adults, particularly those residing in urban environments.
• Neighborhood characteristics can influence the mental well-being of elderly populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between perceptions of urban neighborhoods and depressive symptoms in older adults.
• To identify specific neighborhood factors associated with depression in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 7,115 Brazilian adults aged 50+ from the Estudo Longitudinal da Saúde dos Idosos Brasileiros (ELSI-Brazil) study.
• Depressive symptoms assessed using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D-8).
• Neighborhood perceptions (e.g., mobility, noise, disorder, violence, pleasantness, social cohesion, security) analyzed using Poisson regression.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of depressive symptoms was 34.9% overall, higher in women (43.8%) than men (24.5%).
• Negative neighborhood perceptions including mobility issues, noise, disorder, violence, lack of pleasantness, low social cohesion, and insecurity were associated with higher depressive symptom prevalence.
• These associations were observed in the overall sample and among women; all factors except insecurity were significant for men.

Conclusions:

• Neighborhood environment significantly impacts the mental health of older urban dwellers.
• Intersectoral policies involving health, urban planning, public safety, and mobility are crucial for promoting mental well-being in this population.