Abstract
Objectives: To examine how individual characteristics, social isolation, and neighborhood context affect depressive symptoms in a socio-economically diverse population of women with young children. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 261 mothers from 68 neighborhoods in Baltimore between 1998 and 2000. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Neighborhood context was characterized using police and Census data. Multilevel regression was performed. Results: Socially isolated women reported on average 73% (95% CI, 48 and 92%) more depressive symptoms than women who were not socially isolated; however, the association of social isolation and depressive symptoms varied by level of crime in the neighborhood. Social isolation was associated with an average increase in depressive symptoms of 128% (95% CI, 115 and 138%) for women in low-crime neighborhoods but with no change for those in high-crime neighborhoods. The interaction remained significant after controlling for individual- and neighborhood-level socio-demographic characteristics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 464-475 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2008 Oct 1 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
The effect of social isolation on depressive symptoms varies by neighborhood characteristics : A study of an urban sample of women with pre-school aged children. / Rajaratnam, Julie Knoll; O'Campo, Patricia; Caughy, Margaret O Brien; Muntaner, Carles.
In: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, Vol. 6, No. 4, 01.10.2008, p. 464-475.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of social isolation on depressive symptoms varies by neighborhood characteristics
T2 - A study of an urban sample of women with pre-school aged children
AU - Rajaratnam, Julie Knoll
AU - O'Campo, Patricia
AU - Caughy, Margaret O Brien
AU - Muntaner, Carles
PY - 2008/10/1
Y1 - 2008/10/1
N2 - Objectives: To examine how individual characteristics, social isolation, and neighborhood context affect depressive symptoms in a socio-economically diverse population of women with young children. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 261 mothers from 68 neighborhoods in Baltimore between 1998 and 2000. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Neighborhood context was characterized using police and Census data. Multilevel regression was performed. Results: Socially isolated women reported on average 73% (95% CI, 48 and 92%) more depressive symptoms than women who were not socially isolated; however, the association of social isolation and depressive symptoms varied by level of crime in the neighborhood. Social isolation was associated with an average increase in depressive symptoms of 128% (95% CI, 115 and 138%) for women in low-crime neighborhoods but with no change for those in high-crime neighborhoods. The interaction remained significant after controlling for individual- and neighborhood-level socio-demographic characteristics.
AB - Objectives: To examine how individual characteristics, social isolation, and neighborhood context affect depressive symptoms in a socio-economically diverse population of women with young children. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 261 mothers from 68 neighborhoods in Baltimore between 1998 and 2000. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale (CES-D). Neighborhood context was characterized using police and Census data. Multilevel regression was performed. Results: Socially isolated women reported on average 73% (95% CI, 48 and 92%) more depressive symptoms than women who were not socially isolated; however, the association of social isolation and depressive symptoms varied by level of crime in the neighborhood. Social isolation was associated with an average increase in depressive symptoms of 128% (95% CI, 115 and 138%) for women in low-crime neighborhoods but with no change for those in high-crime neighborhoods. The interaction remained significant after controlling for individual- and neighborhood-level socio-demographic characteristics.
KW - Depression
KW - Neighborhood
KW - Pre-school aged children
KW - Social isolation
KW - Women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=55949113283&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=55949113283&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11469-007-9115-3
DO - 10.1007/s11469-007-9115-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:55949113283
VL - 6
SP - 464
EP - 475
JO - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
JF - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
SN - 1557-1874
IS - 4
ER -