Geographical Distribution of Perceived Neighborhood Safety In Relationship to Depression in Los Angeles County

Background: People who observe negative conditions in their neighborhoods such as vandalism, public drinking and drug use, graffiti, and abandoned buildings have lower perceived neighborhood safety. Prior research found that lower perceived neighborhood safety lead to depression.  Research on the geographic distribution of perceived neighborhood safety and depression will help identify areas most in need of interventions.

Methods: Data from the 2011 County Community Assessment Project on the percent of residents who felt sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 weeks or more in a row per census tract were mapped.  Information on perceived neighborhood safety per census tract was obtained from the 2009-2011 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).  The following CHIS variables were mapped: the percentage of people who felt safe in the neighborhood some or none of the time and the percentage of people who disagreed or strongly disagreed that their neighbors were willing to help each other.

Results: All variables were unevenly distributed in Los Angeles County.  Depression was clustered in South-Central Los Angeles.  Depression clusters coincided with areas where a higher percentage of people felt safe some or none of the time and who disagreed or strongly disagreed that their neighbors were willing to help each other.  

Conclusions: Interventions in South-Central Los Angeles are needed to increase feelings of safety and promote mental health among residents.  One example of an intervention is a block watch crime-prevention strategy.  Another intervention could focus on increasing social interactions and activities among neighbors.