Neighborhood and Health

Just as the conditions within individual homes significantly affect their health, the conditions in the surrounding neighborhoods can also profoundly impact their health and well-being. The social and physical characteristics of neighborhoods have been associated with various health outcomes such as mortality, mental health, chronic diseases, health behaviors, and other risk factors for long-term health issues. Therefore, adequately planned and designed neighborhoods can serve as vehicles for health promotion. This chapter offers an overview of conceptual frameworks that link neighborhoods and health, discuss foundational definitions and methodological approaches utilized in this field, conduct a brief review of emerging topics, and explore examples that demonstrate how transforming neighborhoods and valuing neighborhood resources might promote the health of populations.