Exploring the impact of Detroit’s neighborhood characteristics on residents’ mental well-being

Abstract

IntroductionDetroit has encountered economic crises that negatively impacted residents’ neighborhood characteristics. Although substantial efforts are being made to enhance Detroit neighborhoods, there is limited understanding of the impact of Detroit’s neighborhood characteristics on residents’ mental well-being. With its potential to address this gap, this study aimed to examine the relationship between mental health status and satisfaction with neighborhood characteristics.MethodsData from the 12th wave (2021) of the Detroit Metro Area Communities were utilized for this cross-sectional study. Participants included individuals 18 or older residing in Detroit (N = 2,173). To meet the study’s objective, descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between mental health and neighborhood characteristics.ResultsCompared to participants who reported being very satisfied, participants who reported being very dissatisfied with the crime level were 2.12 times (95% CI = 1.10–4.08) more likely to have a higher number of mentally unhealthy days. The odds of a higher number of mentally unhealthy days were 77% (AOR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.03–3.04) among those who reported being very dissatisfied with housing prices.DiscussionResearch on Detroit residents’ mental well-being found a significant relationship between neighborhood characteristics and mentally unhealthy days. The findings can be used to advocate and plan programs to reduce crime levels in Detroit. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of assessing the impact of the American Rescue Plan Act on both neighborhood characteristics and residents’ mental health. It also highlights the need to enhance behavioral health services for residents.