Neighborhood social cohesion and psychological distress among Asian elders in California

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 4: Race, Health, and Inequalities

Abstract

In recent years, older Asian adults have become targeted due to their racial/ethnic background, yet little is known about how perceptions of their local community impact their mental health. This study investigated the relationship between neighborhood social cohesion and psychological distress among this highly stigmatized yet understudied population. Drawing on data from the 2021-2022 California Health Interview Survey Public Use Files, we used weighted linear regression to examine the association between neighborhood social cohesion and psychological distress among Asian elders. Results showed that lower neighborhood social cohesion (i.e., discohesion) was strongly associated with higher psychological distress, even after accounting for various socio-demographic and health-related variables. Specifically, for each unit increase in discohesion, a 0.093 unit increase in psychological distress was predicted (CI: 0.011, 0.175). These findings highlight the importance of neighborhood social cohesion for understanding mental health among racially minoritized older adults. Directions for future research and implications for public health are discussed.

Authors

• Xiang Gao, University of North Carolina Greensboro

• Shan Mohammed Siddiqui, SUNY-Farmingdale