Women's Perceptions of Neighborhood Resources and Hazards Related to Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking: Focus Group Results from Economically Distinct Neighborhoods in a Mid-Sized U.S. City

Abstract

This qualitative, exploratory study illustrates how resources and hazards in one's neighborhood cannot be viewed as having solely one dimension-each may influence health behaviors both positively and negatively.

“It makes us really look inferior to outsiders”: Coping with psychosocial experiences associated with the lack of access to safe water and sanitation

“…27 In this study, Lake Victoria was an important coping resource and a stressor because residents had concerns with the level of pollution. Yen et al (2007) 28 refer to such attributes or phenomena in the natural environment as a "resource-hazard conflict". Reconciling such conflicts in Usoma and other lakeshore communities will require policy interventions to both curb pollution and eliminate reliance on the lake as a drinking water source.…”

A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Associated With Walking and Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Latino Adults

“…The residential neighborhood is the most common location for walking among older adults (Eyler et al, 2003). Unfortunately, environmental barriers to neighborhood-based PA may be accentuated among older adults as a result of a combination of declines in physical and cognitive functioning, increased discomfort with driving, and fewer social network members (Yen, Scherzer, Cubbin, Gonzalez, & Winkleby, 2007). …”

Qualitative environmental health research: an analysis of the literature, 1991-2008

“…This illustrates the findings of many studies that context-specific social, cultural, and economic circumstances shape perceptions of environment and health, and the relationship between the two (i.e., environmental health). This finding has been corroborated by more than a dozen studies that compared perceptions and responses of participants by differences in socioeconomic status, for example, by conducting focus groups and interviews with residents from the same city or neighborhood but from demographically distinct areas within the city or neighborhood (Bickerstaff and Walker 2001;Bolam et al 2006;Bush et al 2001;Day 2006Day , 2008Israel et al 2006;James and Eyles 1999;Kamphuis et al 2007;Popay et al 2003;Songsore and McGranahan 1998;Stevens et al 2004;Timmermans 2007;Wakefield et al 2001;Yen et al 2007). Additionally, day-to-day experience of environmental hazards, or health conditions, was reported to influence perception of environmental health.…”

“…Environmental exposures studied in three or more publications. (Kamphuis et al 2007;Krenichyn 2006;Michael et al 2006;Regan et al 2006;Richards and Smith 2007;Ries et al 2008;Trayers et al 2006;Yen et al 2007). Most of these articles, and nine addi-tional articles with a focus on neighborhood effects on health generally, were published since 2000 (Bolam et al 2006;Bowie et al 2005;Butchart et al 2000;Day 2008;Israel et al 2006;Popay et al 2003;Schaefer-McDaniel 2007;Timmermans 2007;Warr et al 2007).…”