Perceptions of greenspace and social determinants of health across the life course: The Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ). (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Besser, Lilah M.; Meyer, Oanh L.; Streitz, Marissa; Farias, Sarah T.; Olichney, John; Mitsova, Diana; Galvin, James E.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 81(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: Neighborhood -- Green space -- Park -- Social determinants of health -- Questionnaire -- Built environment; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: We developed the Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ) to query older adults about perceived neighborhood greenspaces across the life course (i.e., distance to park, number of neighborhood parks/playgrounds, and neighborhood greenness) and about characteristics hypothesized to confound or moderate/mediate greenspace-health associations. Six perceived life course indices are derived from the LSNEQ: neighborhood socioeconomic status, neighborhood walking/biking, urbanicity, neighborhood amenities, neighborhood park access, and neighborhood greenness. Older adults from St. Louis, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, completed the LSNEQ in 2020–2021. The indices demonstrated borderline acceptable to good internal consistency (alpha = 0.60–0.79) and good to excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71–0.96) and detected different patterns of park access and neighborhood greenness by racialized group and location. Individuals with index scores indicating more neighborhood walking/biking and greater presence of neighborhood amenities over their life course were more likely to report neighborhood-based walking in older age. Overall, the LSNEQ is a reliable instrument to assess perceptions of life course social determinants of health including neighborhood greenspaces. Highlights: Description of Life Course Sociodemographics and Neighborhood Questionnaire (LSNEQ). LSNEQ queries older adults on life course social determinants of health. Six indices derived on life course neighborhood exposures including greenspace. Overall, LSNEQ found to have good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Questionnaire can be used and adapted to initiate studies of life course SDOH.