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Association Between Neighborhood Cohesion and Self‐Neglect in Chinese‐American Older Adults
Author(s) -
Hei Ailian,
Dong XinQi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.15147
Subject(s) - neglect , medicine , odds ratio , confidence interval , confounding , population , gerontology , cross sectional study , demography , psychiatry , environmental health , pathology , sociology
Objectives To examine the association between neighborhood cohesion and risk of self‐neglect in a community‐dwelling Chinese‐American older population. Setting Community. Participants Chinese‐American older adults aged 60 and older interviewed from 2011 to 2013 (N = 3,159). Design Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly, a cross‐sectional community‐engaged study in the greater Chicago area. Measurements Self‐neglect was assessed with systematic observations of a participant's personal and home environment. Neighborhood cohesion was measured using six questions. Results After controlling for potential confounders, greater neighborhood cohesion was significantly associated with lower risk of overall self‐neglect (odds ratio ( OR ) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 0.77–0.98) and moderate to severe self‐neglect ( OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.58–0.85) but not significantly associated with mild self‐neglect ( OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.82–1.09). Regarding the phenotypes of self‐neglect, greater neighborhood cohesion was significantly associated with lower risk of poor personal hygiene ( OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.67–0.96) and need for home repair ( OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.60–0.83) but not significantly for hoarding ( OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.89–1.21), unsanitary conditions ( OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.76–1.02), and inadequate utilities ( OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.77–1.31). Conclusion This study highlights the association between greater neighborhood cohesion and lower risk of overall self‐neglect in Chinese‐American older adults. Enhancing neighborhood cohesion may enhance elder self‐neglect prevention and intervention.