The environment an adult resides within is associated with their health behaviours, and their mental and physical health outcomes: a nationwide geospatial study. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hobbs, M.; Milfont, T.L.; Marek, L.; Yogeeswaran, K.; Sibley, C.G.
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 301(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Geographic information systems -- Health -- Environment -- Mental health -- Physical health -- Health behaviour -- Vaping -- Tobacco; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114801
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The determinants of health behaviours and health outcomes are multifaceted and the surrounding environment is increasingly considered as an important influence. This pre-registered study investigated the associations between the geospatial environment people live within and their health behaviours as well as their mental and physical health outcomes. Method: We used the newly developed Healthy Location Index (HLI) to identify health-promoting and health-constraining environmental features where people live. We then used Time 10 (2018) data from the New Zealand Attitudes and Values Survey (NZAVS; N = 47, 951), a national probability sample of New Zealand adults, to gauge mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety and psychological distress, physical health outcomes including BMI and type II diabetes, and health behaviours such as tobacco smoking and vaping. Linear and logistic multilevel mixed effect regression models with random intercepts of individuals nested within geographical areas (meshblocks) were employed. Results: The presence of health-constraining environmental features were adversely associated with self-reported mental health outcomes of depression, anxiety and psychological distress, physical health outcomes of BMI and type II diabetes, and negative health behaviours of tobacco smoking and vaping. By contrast, health-promoting environmental features were uniquely associated only with physical health outcomes of BMI and type II diabetes. Conclusion: The current study advances research on environmental determinants of health behaviours by demonstrating that close proximity to health-constraining environmental features is related to a number of self-reported physical and mental health outcomes or behaviours. We provide some evidence to support the notion that preventive population-health interventions should be sought. Highlights: The environmental features of places influence people's mental and physical health. We relate objective environmental good/bad metrics to national data. Some health-promoting environmental features linked to better health outcomes. Certain health-constraining environmental features linked to poorer health outcomes. Results further support the validity of the New Zealand Healthy Location Index.