Citation
Johns, Lauren E.; Aiello, Allison E.; Cheng, Caroline; Galea, Sandro; Koenen, Karestan C.; & Uddin, Monica (2012). Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in a Community-Based Sample: Findings from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 47(12), 1899-1906. PMCID: PMC4530972Abstract
PURPOSE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common and debilitating. Although research has identified individual-level risk factors for PTSD, the role of macro-social factors in PTSD etiology remains unknown. This study tests whether perceived neighborhood social cohesion (NSC), measured at the both the individual and neighborhood levels, plays a role in determining past-year risk of PTSD among those exposed to trauma.METHODS: Data (n = 1,221) were obtained from an ongoing prospective epidemiologic study in the city of Detroit. Assessment of traumatic event exposure and PTSD was consistent with DSM-IV criteria. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) and logistic regression models were used to estimate the association of neighborhood-level perceived NSC with the risk of PTSD, adjusting for individual-level perceptions of NSC and other covariates.
RESULTS: The odds of past-year PTSD were significantly higher among those residing in a neighborhood with low social cohesion compared to high (OR = 2.44, 95 % CI: 1.58, 3.78), independent of individual sociodemographic characteristics, number of traumas, and individual-level perceptions of NSC. The odds of past-year PTSD were not significantly associated with individual-level perceptions of NSC.
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that social context shapes risk of PTSD and suggest that changing the social context may shift vulnerability to this disorder.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0506-9Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2012Journal Title
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric EpidemiologyAuthor(s)
Johns, Lauren E.Aiello, Allison E.
Cheng, Caroline
Galea, Sandro
Koenen, Karestan C.
Uddin, Monica