Title | Neighborhood Characteristics and Inflammation among Older Black Americans: The Moderating Effects of Hopelessness and Pessimism. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Nguyen, AW, Taylor, HOwen, Lincoln, KD, Qin, W, Hamler, TC, Wang, F, Mitchell, UA |
Journal | The Journals of Gerontology: Series A |
Volume | 77 |
Issue | 2 |
Pagination | e82-e88 |
ISSN Number | 1758-535X |
Keywords | C-reactive protein, cognitive disposition, neighborhood physical disadvantage, neighborhood social cohesion |
Abstract | BACKGROUND: Research documents the adverse health effects of systemic inflammation. Overall, older Black Americans tend to have higher inflammation than older non-Hispanic white adults. Given that inflammation is related to a range of chronic health problems that disproportionately affect Blacks compared to whites, this racial disparity in inflammation may contribute to racial disparities in particular chronic health problems. Thus, a better understanding of its determinants in the older Black population is of critical importance. This analysis examined the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation in a national sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans. An additional aim of this study was to determine whether hopelessness and pessimism moderates the association between neighborhood characteristics and inflammation. METHODS: A sample of older non-Hispanic Black Americans aged 60+ were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (N=1,004). Neighborhood characteristics included neighborhood physical disadvantage and neighborhood social cohesion. Inflammation was assessed by C-reactive protein (CRP). RESULTS: The analyses indicated that neighborhood physical disadvantage and social cohesion were not associated with CRP. Hopelessness and pessimism moderated the association between neighborhood physical disadvantage and CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge regarding the role of hopelessness and pessimism as moderator in the neighborhood-inflammation association can inform cognitive-behavioral interventions targeted at changes in cognition patterns. |
DOI | 10.1093/gerona/glab121 |
Citation Key | 11602 |
PubMed ID | 33929517 |