Postdoc Fellow
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Exploring Disparities in Neighborhood Investment and Gentrification in Cardiovascular Kidney Metabolic Syndrome Among Urban AdultsCardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKMS) is a significant public health concern as it is the leading cause of death globally and disproportionately impacts historically marginalized populations. The neighborhood environment—where people live, work, and age—has been associated with cardiometabolic risk; however, the specific links between neighborhood change represented by gentrification or neighborhood investment and CKMS risk remain understudied. Existing research has established associations between objective neighborhood measures and CKMS risk, but limited information exists exploring the role of neighborhood perceptions on these associations.
Therefore, we will examine associations between perceptions of gentrification/neighborhood investment and CKMS risk and whether these associations vary by length of residency, race, and household income or are mediated by specific domains of the neighborhood environment (i.e., aesthetics, violence, safety, social cohesion). Neighborhood perceptions are vital as they capture residents’ lived experiences and may directly relate to neurobiological pathways leading to CKMS risk. Therefore, we will also explore whether these perception measures are concordant or discordant with observed measures of gentrification and neighborhood investment.
We will recruit 500 participants from major U.S. cities via YouGov panel members. They will be matched by race and ethnicity, age, and gender, based on a matched pairs design.
The results from this study will advance our understanding of the complex mechanisms through which built neighborhood and social environments differentially impact chronic disease risk among urban populations. Such data could also identify structural and community-level intervention targets to improve health and well-being.
