Leveraging a Novel Combination of Spatial and School Data to Explore Associations between Neighborhood Trauma and Social Determinants of Health in Philadelphia Schools
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Trauma is a pervasive public health issue that disproportionately affects youth in disadvantaged communities. Schools are increasingly recognized as key settings for addressing trauma and social determinants of health (SDOH), yet tools to identify and prioritize school environments for trauma-informed efforts are limited. This study aimed to (1) develop a Neighborhood Adversity Index (NAI) to operationalize neighborhood trauma for school neighborhoods in Philadelphia and (2) examine associations between neighborhood trauma and school-level SDOH indicators, including health behaviors, school climate, and school meal participation. This study combined geospatial and administrative data from all public schools in Philadelphia (N = 218) from 2023–2025. School neighborhoods were defined using catchment areas; NAI scores were generated through area-weighted aggregation of census tract–level indicators. School-level SDOH outcomes were derived from administrative and survey data and analyzed using linear regression models, with NAI categorized into tertiles (low, medium, high). Neighborhood trauma displayed clear spatial patterning; of 14 SDOH outcomes examined, 7 were significantly associated with trauma levels. Compared to low-trauma areas, schools in high-trauma neighborhoods had lower attendance (β = −11.69, p < 0.001), reduced physical activity (β = −0.048, p = 0.006), less healthy beverage consumption (β = −0.053, p = 0.021), lower perceived safety (β range: −5.36 to − 5.72, p < 0.05), and greater economic disadvantage (β = 9.92, p < 0.001). High-trauma neighborhoods were associated with higher school lunch participation (β = 0.062, p = 0.034). These findings highlight NAI as a novel, actionable tool for targeting trauma-informed school interventions.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Temple University
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7166886905