The association between neighborhood social and built environment on loneliness among young adults with cancer

Young adults with cancer (YAs, aged 18–39) are at increased risk of experiencing loneliness due to their unique challenges of coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment during young adulthood. Understanding factors that impact loneliness is critical to improving survivorship outcomes for this vulnerable YA population. Neighborhoods are key determinants of health. However, little is known about how such neighborhood characteristics are associated with loneliness among YA survivors.

YA survivors (N = 181) drawn from the National Institutes of Health All of Us Research Program completed measures of neighborhood social environment (e.g., shared values), aspects of their neighborhood built environment (e.g., access to transit, recreational activities), and loneliness. Two total scores were calculated with higher scores reflecting higher neighborhood social cohesion and higher neighborhood walkability/bikeability (i.e., built environment). Hierarchical linear regression examined associations between the social and built environment on loneliness.

Higher levels of neighborhood social cohesion (β =  − 0.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) =  − 0.44, − 0.11) and neighborhood walkability/bikeability (β =  − 0.15, 95% CI =  − 0.31, − 0.006) were significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness.

Findings suggest that living within a cohesive social environment with neighborhood walkability/bikeability to built environment amenities such as green space, grocery stores, and public transportation is protective against loneliness among YA survivors. More longitudinal research is necessary to understand the dynamic changes in loneliness among YA survivors living in diverse social and built environments.

YA survivors may benefit from cultivating neighbor relationships and living within neighborhoods with walkability/bikeability.