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Articles in Neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) affects health through access to health care, retail, and other services that impact health.

  • Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods reduces the likelihood of having a usual source of care and of obtaining recommended preventive services, while it increases the likelihood of having unmet medical needs.

    Kirby JB, Kaneda T. 2005. If neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and access to health care. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 46 (1):15-31.

  • There is significant variation between neighborhoods in an individual's ability to access primary care, significantly varies between different neighborhoods and this can't be explained by the composition of individuals living in the neighborhoods. Social capital and healthcare resources significantly predict an individual's primary care access.

    Prentice JC. 2006. Neighborhood effects on primary care access in Los Angeles. Social Science & Medicine 62:1291-1303.

  • Living in a neighborhood with a higher concentration of organizations or services serving young people and adults was associated with lower levels of aggression.

    Molnar BE, Cerda M, Roberts AL, Buka SL. 2008. Effects of neighborhood resources on aggressive and delinquent behaviors among urban youths. 98(6):1086-93.

  • The elderly living in disadvantaged neighborhoods with poor access to public transportation were more likely to report a decline in physical functioning, which may be due to their inability to attain needed services and engage in community participation.

    Balfour JL, Kaplan GA. 2002. Neighborhood environment and loss of physical function in older adults: Evidence from the Alameda county study. American Journal of Epidemiology 155(6):507–515.

  • Key informant interviews and focus groups conducted with residents in diverse neighborhoods in Oakland, California indicated that neighborhoods of higher SES received better municipal services as well as more attention and action from municipal agencies to health and social problems that may affect the residents. Residents in such neighborhoods also tend to be better organized in collective actions to improve their neighborhoods.

    Altschuler A, Somkin CP, Adler NE. 2004. Local services and amenities, neighborhood social capital, and health. Social Science & Medicine 59:1219-1229.