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Neighborhood Influences on Health

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Essay

Stress Accumulates in Marginalized Communities, Generation After Generation

Jul 8, 2020

Psychologists and biologists have known for years that prolonged stress is toxic to the human body. A better understanding of how stress builds in communities—and the burden it puts on them—can lead to more effective policies to address it.
Essay

How Pittsburgh Is Addressing Social and Economic Disparities

Jul 2, 2019

Pittsburgh has been taking a hard look at race, wealth, and opportunity. In partnership with RAND, the city has run and published its numbers on subjects ranging from police contacts to business ownership to graduation rates as part of a commitment to do better.

Explore Neighborhood Influences on Health

Blog

Women's Heart Disease Awareness

Friday is National Wear Red Day, when people are asked to wear red to raise awareness about the health risks women face from heart disease. Too little attention is devoted to preventing heart disease in women and improving the quality and outcomes of their care.

Feb 5, 2014
Journal Article

Journal Article

The Potential for Pocket Parks to Increase Physical Activity

Pocket parks, when perceived as attractive and safe destinations, may increase physical activity by encouraging families with children to walk there.

Jan 1, 2014
Journal Article

What’s Inside the Neighborhood Store May Matter More Than Its Location

Placing supermarkets in food deserts to improve access may not be as important as offering better prices for healthy foods, actively marketing healthy foods, and helping consumers resist junk food appeals.

Jan 1, 2014
Journal Article

The Impact of Public Housing on Social Networks: A Natural Experiment

Different types of public housing have a modest impact on the health composition of one's social network, suggesting the importance of housing policy for health.

Jan 1, 2014
Journal Article

Journal Article

Association of Vascular Risk Factors with Cognition in a Multiethnic Sample

The authors examine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and cognitive performance in a multiethnic sample of older adults.

Jan 1, 2014
Commentary

Here's to Our Health

Atop the new mayor's agenda should be improving the health and well-being of Pittsburgh residents. With an unassailable electoral mandate in hand, Mr. Peduto is positioned to take bold steps. And the best way to do that is by applying scientific and medical evidence to shape an integrated, citywide, health-policy framework.

Nov 25, 2013
Journal Article

Modest Improvements in Marketing and Signage at Parks Can Increase Visitors’ Activity and Exercise

Physical activity in public parks may help improve community health, but promoting it is difficult for local parks with limited budgets. Modest increases in signage, promotional items, and outreach in parks across Los Angeles boosted physical activity by 7 to 12 percent compared to parks that did not make changes.

Nov 1, 2013
Commentary

What's in a Name? Calling Obesity a Disease Could Help Improve Chronic Disease Outcomes

The American Medical Association officially designated obesity as a disease, hoping to help change the way doctors approach the issue with their patients, increase funding for research on effective treatments, spur insurers to cover prescription weight loss medications, and maybe even help de-stigmatize the condition.

Oct 16, 2013
Commentary

Using the Power of Communities to Beat Depression

Under-resourced communities of color have limited access to programs that could improve recognition and treatment of depression. RAND and UCLA investigators applied an engagement model to determine how to better serve these communities.

Aug 27, 2013
Journal Article

How Do Neighborhood Parks Contribute to Physical Activity?

Neighborhood parks can support vigorous physical activity, but they are underutilized. Efforts to promote vigorous activity in local parks could help both child development and adult physical fitness. 

Aug 1, 2013
Journal Article

Getting Actionable About Community Resilience

The findings of a baseline survey on community resilience in Los Angeles highlighted opportunities for engaging communities in disaster preparedness and informed the development of a community action plan and toolkit.

Jun 7, 2013
Blog

Can “Fixing” Food Deserts Curb Obesity? The Jury Is Still Out

We know that the obesity epidemic is a serious public health concern. What's less clear, however, is how our surroundings fit into the equation.

Apr 18, 2013
Journal Article

Are Our Actions Aligned with Our Evidence? The Skinny on Changing the Landscape of Obesity

Recent debate about the role of food deserts in the United States has prompted discussion on policies being enacted, including efforts that encourage the placement of full-service supermarkets into food deserts.

Mar 1, 2013
Journal Article

The Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Coronary Heart Disease in Women

Women living in more compact communities had a lower probability of experiencing a coronary heart disease (CHD) event or dying as a result of CHD.

Mar 1, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Neighborhood Food Outlets, Diet, and Obesity Among California Adults, 2007 and 2009

The presence of food outlets near home is not associated with dietary intake or BMI. In general, shopping patterns are weakly related, if at all, to neighborhoods, perhaps because of easy access to cars.

Mar 1, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Exploring Community Health Center and Faith-Based Partnerships: Community Residents' Perspectives

Community health centers (CHCs) play a critical role in the primary care safety net.

Feb 1, 2013
Report

Exploring the Association Between Military Base Neighborhood Characteristics and Soldiers' and Airmen's Outcomes

This report explores how neighborhood theory and social indicators research shed light on quality of life in and around military bases, gaps in the methodology, and how a more in-depth analysis of military installations could be conducted.

Jan 24, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Use of Neighbourhood Parks: Does Socio-Economic Status Matter? A Four-City Study

The finding that park programming is the most important correlate of park use and park-based physical activity suggests that there are opportunities for facilitating physical activity among populations of both high- and low-poverty areas.

Jan 1, 2013
Journal Article

Food Policy Research: We Need Better Measurement, Better Study Designs, and Reasonable and Measured Actions Based on the Available Evidence

The authors' findings support restricting the development of fast-food outlets and attracting grocery stores, and are committed to additional research that overcomes the limitations of large studies.

Jan 1, 2013
Journal Article

Journal Article

Outdoor Advertising, Obesity, and Soda Consumption: A Cross-Sectional Study

There is a relationship between the percentage of outdoor food advertising and overweight/obesity.

Jan 1, 2013

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