Community Greening, Fear of Crime, and Mental Health Outcomes

Abstract

Unmaintained vacant land in urban areas is associated with a number of negative outcomes for residents of urban areas, including mental and physical health, safety, and quality of life. Community programs which promote land parcel maintenance in urban neighborhoods have been found to reverse some of the effects that unmaintained land has on nearby residents. We explored how land parcel maintenance is associated with mental health outcomes using data collected in Flint, MI in 2017–2018. Trained observers assessed the maintenance of approximately 7200 land parcels and surveyed 691 residents (57% Female, 53% Black, M age = 51). We aggregated resident and parcel rating data to 463 street segments and compared three structural equation models (SEM) to estimate the mediating effects of fear of crime on the association of parcel qualities on mental distress for residents. We found that fear of crime mediated the association between parcel maintenance values and mental distress indicating that poor maintenance predicted more fear of crime which was associated with mental distress. Our findings add to our understanding about the mechanism by which vacant lot improvements may operate to enhance psychological well‐being of residents who live on streets with vacant and unkept lots.

Changing epidemiology of firearm injury: a cohort study of non-fatal firearm victimisation before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Indianapolis, Indiana

“…Efforts to eliminate and demolish abandoned homes have reduced firearm violence by 11% in Detroit, Michigan and other community greening projects have reduced gun assaults and overall community violence 37. Improving the maintenance of vacant lots through community greening projects also reduces residents fear of crime and improves overall community mental health outcomes 38…”

Associations between observed neighborhood physical disorder and health behaviors, New Jersey behavioral risk factor Surveillance System 2011–2016

“…Neighborhood physical disorder is an indicator of disinvestment that might impact health behaviors through psychosocial stress pathways ( Burt et al, 2022 , Keyes et al, 2012 , Mayne et al, 2018 , O'Brien et al, 2019 ). Such explanations posit that residents of higher physical disorder areas perceive this higher disorder ( O'Brien et al, 2019 ), which triggers neuroendocrine pathways involved in maladaptive stress responses potentially leading to engagement in unhealthy behaviors ( Agorastos and Chrousos, 2022 , McEwen, 1998 ).…”

“…Observed neighborhood physical disorder – visual indicators of disinvestment acting as neighborhood stressors – is one such factor ( Branas et al, 2018 , Raleigh and Galster, 2015 , Sampson and Raudenbush, 2004 ). Neighborhood physical disorder has been gaining attention in the sociologic ( Burt et al, 2022 , O'Brien et al, 2022 ), epidemiologic ( Keyes et al, 2012 , Mayne et al, 2018 , Messer et al, 2012 , Meyers et al, 2013 , Plascak et al, 2022 ), and urban revitalization ( Branas et al, 2018 ) literatures as findings have suggested it may affect health through psychosocial and behavioral pathways. Several studies have reported associations between higher observed neighborhood physical disorder and greater tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption ( Brown et al, 2014 , Furr-Holden et al, 2011 , Keyes et al, 2012 , Mayne et al, 2018 , Messer et al, 2012 , Meyers et al, 2013 ).…”

Quantifying use in a community garden program with extensive resource provision to gardeners

“…Individual benefits can include access to fresh food, increased physical activity, social development, income benefits, and environmental education (Guitart et al., 2012; Litt et al., 2011). Community benefits include increased real estate values, reduced crime, enhanced greenspace, and environmental equity (Burt et al., 2021; Egli et al., 2016; Knobel et al., 2021; Kondo et al., 2020; Lawson, 2005; Voicu and Been, 2008).…”