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Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation in Early Childhood Mediates Racial Disparities in Blood Pressure in a College Student Sample.

The influence of childhood contexts on adult blood pressure is an important yet understudied topic. Using a developmental perspective, this study examines the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage in early childhood (0–5 yrs), middle childhood (6–12 yrs) and adolescence (13–18...

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Published in:Journal of Youth & Adolescence Vol. 51; no. 11; pp. 2146 - 2161
Main Authors: Nichols, Olivia I., Fuller-Rowell, Thomas E., Robinson, Austin T., Eugene, DaJuandra, Homandberg, Lydia K.
Format: Article
Published: Springer Nature Nov2022
Subjects:
African Americans
Socioeconomic factors
White people
Race
College students
Health equity
Adverse childhood experiences
Social isolation
Children
Blood pressure
Neighborhood characteristics
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The influence of childhood contexts on adult blood pressure is an important yet understudied topic. Using a developmental perspective, this study examines the association between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage in early childhood (0–5 yrs), middle childhood (6–12 yrs) and adolescence (13–18 yrs) on subsequent blood pressure in young adulthood. Data were from 263 college students (52% Black; M = 19.21 years) and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage was measured using a tract-level Area Deprivation Index. Neighborhood disadvantage in early childhood was significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure and explained 22% of the race difference between Black and White adults. The findings are consistent with the notion that early childhood may be a sensitive period for the effects of neighborhood disadvantage on blood pressure.