Work

Disadvantaged neighborhood influences on depression and anxiety in youth with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus: how life stressors matter

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: Children living with perinatal HIV illness (PHIV+) disproportionately reside in disadvantaged neighborhoods and contend with persistent mental health challenges. This study examined the influences of disadvantaged residential neighborhood on anxiety and depression, and potential resources that buffer against internalizing problems when youths were exposed to neighborhood stressors. Multilevel analysis of 196 PHIV+ and 129 perinatally HIV-exposed but uninfected youth (PHIV-) in New York City found that higher exposure to neighborhood disorder was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety for PHIV+ and PHIV- youths. Stressful events unrelated to residential neighborhoods significantly mediated the relationship between neighborhood disorder and anxiety and depression. Social problem solving and religiosity did not moderate the relationship between neighborhood disorder and internalizing problems. Our findings highlighted that interventions that attenuate the negative effects of stressful life events were equally critical in addressing the broader impact of disadvantaged neighborhoods on the mental health of youth affected by HIV.

Source: Journal of Community Psychology

DOI: 10.1002/jcop.20483

Authors: Ezer Kang, Claude A. Mellins, Curtis Dolezal, Katherine S. Elkington, Elaine J. Abrams

Institutions: Wheaton College - Illinois, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health