School and Community Influences on Health: Using Multilevel Models to Understand Cardiovascular Health in Adolescence

• In Event: Health and Well-Being in Adolescence

Abstract

Adolescence is associated with decreases in cardiovascular fitness. Although many adolescents begin to spend more time out of the house, no studies have examined how school and neighborhood factors predict cardiovascular fitness. In this study, data from 319,114 youth were used to estimate the individual impact of school (e.g., outdoor spaces) and neighborhood factors (e.g., social connectedness) on cardiovascular health controlling for individual characteristics (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity). Results suggested that adolescents in schools with smaller student-teacher ratios and in clean, safe neighborhoods with high levels of social connectedness and physical activity resources had better cardiovascular health. These results highlight the importance of considering multiple influences on health and have implications for the allocation of public resources devoted to improving fitness.

Author

• Natasha Chaku, Fordham University