Depression, Health Behavior, Hypertension, Obesity, Physical Activity, Subjective Health
Conditions
Keywords
Social Capital, Social Support, Neighborhood, Population Health, Healthy Aging, Adult, Canada
Brief summary
Social networks, social capital, i.e., network-accessed resources, and neighbourhood environments have been shown associated with a range of health behaviours and conditions, including obesity, physical activity, nutrition, and mental health. Research on social capital and health in Montreal has shown the importance of network social capital for a person's subjective health status, sense of control, self-reported physical activity, and obesity. Research has also shown high social capital to reduce health service use, mental health service use, and improve the management of chronic illnesses. Despite advances in the understanding of social capital and its link to health and health service use, most research on social capital is cross sectional and is unable to identify the causal pathways linking social networks and capital to health and health care use. Longitudinal research would strengthen the evidence base for designing interventions to prevent or delay the use of health services, particularly in older adults. This research has three main objectives: (1) transform the original sample of Montreal Neighbourhood Networks and Healthy Aging (MoNNET-HA) households (n=2707) into a panel study, (2) link the MoNNET-HA participant data to their Quebec Health Insurance Registry (Régie de l'assurance maladie (RAMQ)) information, and (3) assess the feasibility of extending the MoNNET-HA panel by one wave to include participant's core network members. Unique about the original MoNNET-HA sample is that it purposefully oversampled older adults (\> 64 years old) but remains representative of Montreal adults at various ages and income levels. In addition, MoNNET-HA data is integrated into a GIS database which allows researchers to examine the effects of neighbourhood environmental characteristics on health. By linking MoNNET-HA data to RAMQ, researchers will be able to examine patterns of diagnosed health conditions, (e.g., fractures, depression), pharmaceutical use and adherence, and formal health care use over time. Transforming the cross-sectional study into a panel study would also allow researchers to examine longitudinally the dynamics of health and health care utilization among Panel participants over the life course, and the causal pathways linking neighbourhoods and networks to health and health care use.
Interventions
OTHERSocial capital; Neighborhood environment
Observational study examining the relationship among neighborhood environment, social capital and health among Montreal adults
Sponsors
Queen's University
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adults 25 years and older, * Residents of the Montreal Metropolitan Area, Canada, * Had to reside at current residence for at least one year
Exclusion criteria
* Non- French or English-speaking households * Institutionalized
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Obesity | Change from wave one obesity at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | Self-reported height and weight converted to BMI with obesity =\>30 |
| Change in Depression | Change from wave one depression at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10-item Binary Scale; Depression was =\>4 |
| Change in Physical inactivity | Change from wave one physical inactivity at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure a person's metabolic equivalent of task (MET) over a one-week period; Physical inactivity was defined as having a MET of less than 600. |
| Change in Hypertension | Change from wave one hypertension at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | Self-reported doctor-diagnosed hypertension |
| Change in Subjective Health | Change from wave one subjective health at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | Self-reported health: 5 response options: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor |
Outcome results
None listed