News Release
RAND Study Finds First Link Between Suburban Sprawl and Increase in Chronic Health Ailments
Sep 27, 2004
Suburban Sprawl and Physical and Mental Health
Published in: Public Health, v. 118, no. 7, Oct. 2004, p. 448-496
Posted on RAND.org on January 01, 2004
OBJECTIVE: To study the association between objective measures of suburban sprawl and chronic medical conditions and mental health disorders in the USA. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of survey data merged with objective measures of suburban sprawl. Outcomes are self-reported medical conditions, mental health disorders and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Sprawl significantly predicts chronic medical conditions and health-related quality of life, but not mental health disorders. An increase in sprawl from one standard deviation less to one standard deviation more than average implies 96 more chronic medical problems per 1000 residents, which is approximately similar to an aging of the population of 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: A robust association between sprawl and physical (but not mental) health suggests that suburban design may be an important new avenue for health promotion and disease prevention.
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