Individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods have disproportionately high rates of obesity and obesity-related morbidity, including increased risk for physical role limitations and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Studies of potential mechanisms linking neighborhood disadvantage with health outcomes have primarily focused on daytime health behaviors, including diet or physical activity. However, sleep is a critical health behavior that is associated with neighborhood disadvantage, and may play a causal role in explaining the links between neighborhood disadvantage and health. However, the extant research on neighborhood disadvantage and sleep is based exclusively on cross-sectional data, using self-reports of sleep and neighborhood characteristics. Building on the existing research infrastructure developed by our team's previously funded, ongoing studies, we have a unique and important opportunity to study whether changes in the built and social environment, stimulated by substantial economic investment improves sleep, and in turn, reduces obesity-related health disparities. The study cohort includes a randomly selected cohort of 1100 low- income, African American adults, from two urban neighborhoods, one of which is undergoing a dramatic revitalization over the next 5 years (i.e., the intervention neighborhood), and the other (the sociodemographically-matched control neighborhood) is not undergoing any such changes. We will add longitudinal assessments of sleep using actigraphy, self-reports, and in a subsample of 300, objective, in-home monitoring of obstructive sleep apnea, to provide a rich characterization of sleep profiles before, during, and, after neighborhood changes. Evidence gained from this study would have substantial scientific and policy implications for identifying novel individual-level and neighborhood level factors that contribute to striking and pervasive racial and socioeconomic disparities in health.

Public Health Relevance

Individuals living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods have significantly higher rates of obesity and obesity-related health problems, including physical role limitations and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Sleep is a critical health behavior that is associated with neighborhood disadvantage and health consequences. Therefore, sleep may serve as an important pathway linking neighborhood disadvantage with obesity and physical role limitations. Our study represents a unique opportunity to evaluate whether improvements in neighborhood conditions, spurred by substantial economic revitalization, improves sleep and in turn, mitigates obesity-related health disparities in a high-risk adult population. Findings from this longitudinal study would provide a stronger test of the causal relationships between neighborhood disadvantage, sleep, and health.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL122460-01A1
Application #
8817924
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-PSE-K (90))
Program Officer
Laposky, Aaron D
Project Start
2015-01-15
Project End
2018-12-31
Budget Start
2015-01-15
Budget End
2015-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$869,128
Indirect Cost
$313,991
Name
Rand Corporation
Department
Type
DUNS #
006914071
City
Santa Monica
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90401
Flórez, Karen R; Richardson, Andrea S; Ghosh-Dastidar, Madhumita Bonnie et al. (2018) The power of social networks and social support in promotion of physical activity and body mass index among African American adults. SSM Popul Health 4:327-333
Brooks Holliday, Stephanie; Dubowitz, Tamara; Haas, Ann et al. (2018) The association between discrimination and PTSD in African Americans: exploring the role of gender. Ethn Health :1-15
Richardson, Andrea S; Troxel, Wendy M; Ghosh-Dastidar, Madhumita et al. (2017) Pathways through which higher neighborhood crime is longitudinally associated with greater body mass index. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 14:155
Richardson, Andrea S; Troxel, Wendy M; Ghosh-Dastidar, Madhumita B et al. (2017) One size doesn't fit all: cross-sectional associations between neighborhood walkability, crime and physical activity depends on age and sex of residents. BMC Public Health 17:97
Troxel, Wendy M; Shih, Regina A; Ewing, Brett et al. (2017) Examination of neighborhood disadvantage and sleep in a multi-ethnic cohort of adolescents. Health Place 45:39-45
Flórez, Karen R; Ghosh-Dastidar, Madhumita Bonnie; Beckman, Robin et al. (2016) The Power of Place: Social Network Characteristics, Perceived Neighborhood Features, and Psychological Distress Among African Americans in the Historic Hill District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Am J Community Psychol 58:60-8
DeSantis, Amy; Troxel, Wendy M; Beckman, Robin et al. (2016) Is the association between neighborhood characteristics and sleep quality mediated by psychological distress? An analysis of perceived and objective measures of 2 Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Sleep Health 2:277-282
Hale, Lauren; Emanuele, Erin; James, Sarah (2015) Recent Updates in the Social and Environmental Determinants of Sleep Health. Curr Sleep Med Rep 1:212-217