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We examined whether urbanicity – living in inner, middle, outer or growth areas – was associated with children's developmental vulnerability. We also explored effects of neighborhood ‘double disadvantage’, conceptualised as living in an outer or growth area with high neighborhood disadvantage, was associated with children's developmental vulnerability. There seemed to be no relationship between the level of urbanicity and child development, but unsurprisingly children living in the most disadvantaged areas were more likely to be developmentally vulnerable. When taken together, children living in inner city most disadvantaged areas had the poorest developmental outcomes. Consequently, research investigating the impact of urbanicity on child development needs to account for neighborhood disadvantage.

Abstract Background In high-income countries, the prevalence of physical inactivity and non-communicable diseases is high, and it is now well-established that insufficient physical activity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Walking for recreation and transportation are effective means of improving population levels of physical activity. Research finds that the built environment (BE) can encourage or discourage walking behaviour, and this association varies for different age groups and sexes. This systematic review aims to synthesise longitudinal evidence to better understand how the BE affects recreational and transportation walking for different age groups (above 64 years and 18–64 years) and sexes in high-income countries. Method We will use Scopus, PubMed, SPORTDiscus with Full Text (EBSCO), Business Source Complete (EBSCO), Art and Architecture Archive (Proquest), Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals (ProQuest), and Art, Design & Architecture Collection (ProQuest) databases to search for relevant studies. Reviewers will screen the search results according to pre-specified eligibility criteria for study inclusion in the review. Required data for the synthesis will be extracted from the included studies to answer the research questions. Further, the methodological quality of the studies included in this systematic review will be evaluated using an established instrument, and the resulting quality scores will be utilized in sensitivity analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist will be followed when reporting the findings. Discussion This review will identify BE attributes that are likely to influence transportation and recreational walking for younger and older adults and different sexes in high-income countries. The findings will help policymakers with making decisions around walkable built environments for older and younger adults and different sexes to keep them healthy. Trial registration This protocol of the prospective systematic review is developed following PRISMA-P guidelines and is registered on the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration ID CRD42022351919).

The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between individual-level factors and cycling for transportation in a cohort of participants living in São Paulo city, Brazil. The same participants (n = 1,431 adults) were interviewed in 2014/2015 (Wave 1) and 2020/2021 (Wave 2) as part of the ‘São Paulo Health Survey-ISA: Physical Activity and Environment’. For the longitudinal transport cycling binary outcome, participants who reported cycling at both time-points and those who were cycling at Wave 2 only were coded as a positive longitudinal pattern for cycling. Those who were not cycling at either Waves, and those who were cycling at Wave 1 only, were grouped into a negative pattern for cycling. The relationship between the longitudinal patterns for transport cycling and sociodemographics, health characteristics, and behaviors at Wave 1 were tested using bivariate analysis, and the significant individual-level factors were then examined in a multivariable binary logistic regression model. The odds of being classified in the positive cycling pattern were lower for women [OR = 0.09; 95 % CI = 0.04–––0.19], and higher for persons aged 30 – 39 [OR = 3.25; 95 % CI = 1.38–––7.66], those who owned a bicycle [OR = 2.00; 95 % CI = 1.13–––3.54], and those who engaged in ≥ 120 min/week of transport walking [OR = 2.07; 95 % CI = 1.24–––3.47] or leisure-time physical activity [OR = 1.77; 95 % CI = 1.02–––3.06]. Cycling interventions and promotion should target women, the mid-aged and involve facilitating bicycle access. Advocacy for physical activity interventions is needed to influence transport cycling.

Abstract Disadvantaged areas experience higher levels of loneliness than advantaged areas, though studies rarely identify environmental determinants of neighbourhood inequity in loneliness. We studied the contribution of the quantity and quality of green space to neighbourhood inequity in loneliness in three buffer sizes (400 m, 800 m, 1600 m), using cross-sectional data from 3778 individuals aged 48–77 years old living in 200 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia. Levels of loneliness were significantly higher in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and these neighbourhoods had less green space and less access to quality green space. However, there was no evidence that neighbourhood disparities in green space contributed to the association between neighbourhood disadvantage and loneliness. Possible methodological and substantive reasons for this result are discussed.

Abstract Background Socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with mental illness, yet its relationship with mental well-being is unclear. Mental well-being is defined as feeling good and functioning well. Benefits of mental well-being include reduced mortality, improved immune functioning and pain tolerance, and increased physical function, pro-social behaviour, and academic and job performance. This study aims to explore the relationship between individual socioeconomic position (SEP), neighbourhood disadvantage and mental well-being in mid-age adults. Methods Multilevel modelling was used to analyse data collected from 7866 participants from the second (2009) wave of HABITAT (How Areas in Brisbane Influence healTh and activiTy), a longitudinal study (2007–2018) of adults aged 40–65 years living in Brisbane, Australia. Mental well-being was measured using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS). Exposure measures were education, occupation, household income, and neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage. Results The lowest MWB scores were observed for the least educated (β = − 1.22, 95%CI = − 1.74, − 0.71), those permanently unable to work (β = − 5.50, 95%CI = − 6.90, − 4.10), the unemployed (β = − 2.62, 95%CI = − 4.12, − 1.13), and members of low-income households (β = − 3.77, 95%CI = − 4.59, − 2.94). Residents of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had lower MWB scores than those living in the least disadvantaged neighbourhoods, after adjustment for individual-level SEP (β = − 0.96, 95%CI = − 1.66, − 0.28). Conclusions Both individual-level SEP and neighbourhood disadvantage are associated with mental well-being although the association is stronger for individual-level SEP. This research highlights the need to address individual and neighbourhood-level socioeconomic determinants of mental well-being.

Residents of socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods have higher rates of overweight and obesity and chronic disease than their counterparts from advantaged neighbourhoods. This study assessed whether associations between neighbourhood disadvantage and measured body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, are accounted for by obesogenic environments (i.e., residential distance to the Central Business District [CBD], supermarket availability, access to walkable destinations). The study used 2017-18 National Health Survey data for working-aged adults (aged ≥18 years, n = 9,367) residing in 3,454 neighbourhoods across Australia's state and territory capital cities. In five of eight cities (i.e., Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth) residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods had significantly higher BMI and a larger waist circumference than residents of more advantaged areas. There was no association between neighbourhood disadvantage and body size in Hobart, Darwin, and Canberra. Associations between neighbourhood disadvantage and body size were partially explained by neighbourhood differences in distance to the CBD but not supermarket availability or walkable amenities. The results of this study point to the role of urban design and city planning as mechanisms for addressing social and economic inequities in Australia's capital cities, and as solutions to this country's overweight and obesity epidemic and associated rising rates of chronic disease.

Comprehensive apartment design policies have been legislated by Australian state governments to address concerns about poor design in residential buildings. These policies aim to improve apartment design and promote good health. This study examined whether: (1) residents living in apartments that implemented more minimum design requirements perceived better apartment design and amenity; and (2) increased implementation of minimum requirements and better perceptions of design were associated with positive mental wellbeing. Apartment complexes (n = 114, built 2006–2016) were sampled from Sydney, Perth, and Melbourne. Building plans and elevations were used to measure and score apartments for their implementation of 96 quantifiable policy-specific requirements and residents (n = 1072) completed a self-report survey on their apartment design and health. Multi-level linear regression models were used to account for clustered data. Residents in apartments with greater implementation of requirements for solar and daylight, indoor space, private open space, communal space and parking had more positive perceptions of their apartment in terms of natural light and winter thermal comfort, indoor space and layout, private open space, communal area quality, and parking, respectively (all p

Background: Few studies examining social determinants of depression have incorporated area level objectively measured crime combined with self-report measures of perceived crime. How these factors may interrelate with neighbourhood disadvantage is not well understood, particularly in Australia, where mental health disorders are of major concern. This study examined relationships between area-level objective crime, self-reported perceptions of crime, neighbourhood disadvantage and depression, and potential mechanisms by which these variables indirectly lead to depression. Methods: This study used data from the HABITAT Project, a representative longitudinal study of persons aged 40–65 years residing in 200 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia, during 2007–2016. A prospective sample of residentially stable persons who reported depression at two years (n =3120) and five years (n=2249) post-follow-up was developed. Area level objective crimes were categorised as either crimes against the person, social incivilities or unlawful entry. Logistic regression was used to establish relationships with depression, followed by a decomposition analysis to establish potential mechanisms. Results: Neighbourhoods in the highest quartile of crimes against the person had an increased risk of individuals reporting depression at all periods of follow-up. Associations were also found between unlawful entry and depression. Decomposition analysis indicated a positive and significant total effect of crime against the person on depression for all periods of follow-up, while an indirect effect of perceived crime was found to partially explain this relationship at 2-years after baseline (prop. Mediated = 46.5%), and at either or both periods of follow-up (prop. Mediated = 53.7%), but not at 5-years follow-up. Discussion: Neighbourhoods with the highest levels of crime against the person may influence depression over time through a pathway of perceived crime. Perceived crime, particularly in areas of high crime against the person should be considered as part of a multi-faceted strategy aimed at improving population mental health.

Objective: We examined associations between neighborhood built environment features and early childhood development (ECD), and tested the contribution of the built environment to associations between neighborhood disadvantage and ECD., Methods: Spatial neighborhood built environment measures were linked to participant addresses in the 2015 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) for children ∼5 years old living in Australia's 21 most populous cities. The 2015 AEDC contains teacher-reported national data on five key child development domains for children in their first year of formal full-time schooling (approximately 5 years old). AEDC scores were classified as 'developmentally vulnerable' (≤10th centile). Using multilevel modeling, 44 built environment measures were tested with developmental vulnerability on at least one domain of the AEDC, adjusting for socioeconomic factors and neighborhood disadvantage., Results: The dataset consisted of 205,030 children; 89.2% living in major cities. In major cities, children with more early childhood education and care services (OR 0.997) and preschool services (OR 0.991) exceeding Australian standards, and access to healthier food outlets within 3200 m of their home (OR 0.999) had decreased odds of developmental vulnerability, controlling for socioeconomic factors and neighborhood disadvantage. Neighborhood disadvantage remained significantly associated with developmental vulnerability after adjustment for child/family variables and neighborhood built environment characteristics., Conclusions: The neighborhood built environment had small effects on the neighborhood disadvantage-ECD relationship at the national level. Few built environment measures were associated with ECD. Small effects at the population level may have wide-ranging impacts; modifying the built environment at scale are promising levers for supporting good child outcomes., (Crown Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)