Neighborhood Influences

Where you live matters. Neighborhood characteristics such as blight, crime, and social cohesion can influence residents’ behaviors. We have explored the relationships between neighborhoods and substance use, sexual risk behaviors, stress, and coping. Our findings underscore the significant contributions that neighborhood factors have on developmental outcomes and highlight the resiliency of vulnerable communities facing risk.

  • Adverse neighborhood conditions can contribute to stress, poor coping, and mental health problems
  • Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods increases physical and psychological stress and exerts a physical and psychological toll on youth
  • Involvement in positive neighborhood activities protects against neighborhood risk

An image of the neighborhood influences findings info graphic

Related publications

2016

Assari, S., Moghani Lankarani, M., Caldwell, C. H., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2016). Fear of Neighborhood Violence During Adolescence Predicts Development of Obesity a Decade Later: Gender Differences Among African Americans. Archives of Trauma Research, 5(2), e31475. https://doi.org/10.5812/atr.31475

2015

Assari, S., Moghani Lankarani, M., Malekahmadi, M. R., Caldwell, C. H., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2015). Baseline religion involvement predicts subsequent salivary cortisol levels among male but not female Black youth. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.31790
Assari, S., Caldwell, C. H., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2015). Perceived Neighborhood Safety During Adolescence Predicts Subsequent Deterioration of Subjective Health Two Decades Later; Gender Differences in a Racially-Diverse Sample. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 6(1), 117. https://doi.org/10.4103/2008-7802.170431
Assari, S., Smith, J. R., Caldwell, C. H., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2015). Gender Differences in Longitudinal Links between Neighborhood Fear, Parental Support, and Depression among African American Emerging Adults. Societies, 5(1), 151–170. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc5010151

2013

Brenner, A. B., Zimmerman, M. A., Bauermeister, J. A., & Caldwell, C. H. (2013). Neighborhood context and perceptions of stress over time: An ecological model of neighborhood stressors and intrapersonal and interpersonal resources. Am J Community Psychol, 51(3–4), 544–556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10464-013-9571-9
Hurd, N. M., Sellers, R. M., Cogburn, C. D., Butler-Barnes, S. T., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2013). Racial identity and depressive symptoms among Black emerging adults: The moderating effects of neighborhood racial composition. Dev Psychol, 49(5), 938–950. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028826
Hurd, N. M., Stoddard, S. A., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2013). Neighborhoods, social support, and African American adolescents’ mental health outcomes: a multilevel path analysis. Child Dev, 84(3), 858–874. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12018

2012

Brenner, A. B., Zimmerman, M. A., Bauermeister, J. A., & Caldwell, C. H. (2012). The physiological expression of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods for youth. J Youth Adolesc, 42(6), 792–806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9838-8
Estrada-Martinez, L. M., Caldwell, C. H., Bauermeister, J. A., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2012). Stressors in multiple life-domains and the risk for externalizing and internalizing behaviors among african americans during emerging adulthood. J Youth Adolesc, 41(12), 1600–1612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9778-3

2011

Bauermeister, J. A., Zimmerman, M. A., & Caldwell, C. H. (2011). Neighborhood disadvantage and changes in condom use among African American adolescents. J Urban Health, 88(1), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-010-9506-9
Brenner, A. B., Bauermeister, J. A., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2011). Neighborhood variation in adolescent alcohol use: examination of socioecological and social disorganization theories. J Stud Alcohol Drugs, 72(4), 651–659.
Johns, M. M., Bauermeister, J. A., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2011). Individual and Neighborhood Correlates of HIV testing among african american youth transitioning from adolescence into young adulthood. AIDS Educ Prev, 22(6), 509–522. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2010.22.6.509

2007

Xue, Y., Zimmerman, M. A., & Caldwell, C. H. (2007). Neighborhood residence and urban youth’s cigarette smoking: The protective role of prosocial activities. American Journal of Public Health, 97(10), 1865–1872.

2002

Ramirez-Valles, J., Zimmerman, M. A., & Juarez, L. (2002). Gender Differences of Neighborhood and Social Control Processes A Study of the Timing of First Intercourse among Low-achieving, Urban, African American Youth. Youth & Society, 33(3), 418–441. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X02033003004

1998

Ramirez-Valles, J., Zimmerman, M. A., & Newcomb, M. D. (1998). Sexual risk behavior among youth: modeling the influence of prosocial activities and socioeconomic factors. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 39(3), 237–253.

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