Posted on May 6, 2019 by Michelle Skidmore
Health Affairs examines the living conditions, social hardships, programs and policies affecting the overall emotional well-being of children and families.
Using data from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health, Dylan Jackson of the University of Texas at San Antonio and coauthors explored whether neighborhood conditions—particularly violence exposure and perceptions of danger—were associated with child health status and health risks across four dimensions: health difficulties (for example, headaches, stomachaches, or breathing problems), chronic physical conditions, developmental disorders, and mental health conditions.
Findings show that children exposed to violence in their neighborhoods and who also feel unsafe experienced almost three times the rate of chronic physical conditions and five times the rate of multiple mental health conditions compared to children who had not been exposed to neighborhood violence and who feel safe in their environments.
Researchers conclude community violence prevention programs are a necessity to promoting health among children.
Read more in Health Affairs journal
— Michelle Skidmore
