Perceived neighborhood quality, individual SES, civic participation and health, mental health and drug abuse/alcohol service access: An analysis of adults in the city of Los Angeles, CA

Research shows that perceptions of neighborhood quality impact on well-being, and that civic participation may also be linked to quality of life outcomes. Using the 2007 Los Angeles Riots Telephone Survey, relationships between neighborhood quality, SES and civic participation on adult ratings (A-F)of health, mental health and drug abuse/alcohol service access in the city of Los Angeles were investigated. Six models were tested using probit regression analysis controlling for perception of overall direction of Los Angeles, and direction of neighborhood. Models with neighborhood direction had a significiant impact on service access (N=682): A positive perception of neighborhood direction was associated with higher grades for health (.114, p<.05) and drug/alcohol (.135, p<.05) service access. US born were likely to grade health (.405, p<.01), mental health (.267, p<.05) and drug/alcohol (.314, p<.05)service access higher, whereas non-citizens were likely to grade only mental health service access higher (.296, p<.05). Older respondents were likely to grade drug/alcohol service access higher (.084, p<.01). Respondents who perceived that neighborhood councils (NCs) encouraged participation, or improved quality of life, were likely to grade mental health (.243, p<.05) and health service access higher (.270, p<.05), respectively. Participation in NCs was associated with a lower health service access grade (-.261, p<.05). Since quality of neighborhood life, SES and civic participation were associated with a range of grades for health, mental health and drug/alcohol service access, meeting quality of life needs in Los Angeles/similar urban settings, suggests a comprehensive community-based approach.