Impact of Neighborhood on Adolescents' Quality of Life
Author Information
Author(s): Marjan Drukker, Charles Kaplan, Josien Schneiders, Frans JM Feron, Jim van Os
Primary Institution: Maastricht University
Hypothesis
How does the neighborhood environment affect adolescents' quality of life during the transition from late childhood to early adolescence?
Conclusion
The neighborhood environment does not significantly change quality of life, but socioeconomic disparities can negatively affect self-esteem and satisfaction.
Supporting Evidence
- Neighborhood factors did not predict changes in general health or mental health.
- Adolescents from lower educated families showed increased self-esteem in poorer neighborhoods.
- Adolescents from higher educated families reported lower satisfaction in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Takeaway
The place where kids live doesn't really change how happy they feel, but if their family's money situation is very different from their neighborhood, it can make them feel worse about themselves.
Methodology
A cohort study followed 1007 adolescents in Maastricht, analyzing their quality of life through questionnaires at baseline and follow-up.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to selective non-response and the influence of individual characteristics on neighborhood perceptions.
Limitations
The study had a relatively high dropout rate and the response rate for the community survey was only 48%.
Participant Demographics
Adolescents aged 11.2 years at baseline, with 52% female participants.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website