Individuals living in low-income neighborhoods have disproportionately high rates of obesity, Type-2 diabetes, and cardiometabolic conditions. Perceived safety in one’s neighborhood may influence stress and physical activity, with cascading effects on cardiometabolic health. In this study, we examined relationships among feelings of safety while walking during the day and mental health [perceived stress (PSS), depression score], moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA), Body Mass Index (BMI), and hemoglobin A1C (A1C) in low-income, high-vacancy neighborhoods in Detroit, Michigan. We recruited 69 adults who wore accelerometers for one week and completed a survey on demographics, mental health, and neighborhood perceptions. Anthropometrics were collected and A1C was measured using A1CNow test strips. We compiled spatial data on vacant buildings and lots across the city. We fitted conventional and multilevel regression models to predict each outcome, using perceived safety during daytime walking as the independent variable of interest and individual or both individual and neighborhood-level covariates (e.g., number of vacant lots). Last, we examined trends in neighborhood features according to perceived safety. In this predominantly African American sample (91%), 47% felt unsafe during daytime walking. Feelings of perceived safety significantly predicted PSS (β = − 2.34, p = 0.017), depression scores (β = − 4.22, p = 0.006), and BMI (β = − 2.87, p = 0.01), after full adjustment. For PA, we detected a significant association for sex only. For A1C we detected significant associations with blighted lots near the home. Those feeling unsafe lived in neighborhoods with higher park area and number of blighted lots. Future research is needed to assess a critical pathway through which neighborhood features, including vacant or poor-quality green spaces, may affect obesity—via stress reduction and concomitant effects on cardiometabolic health.

中文翻译：

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白天步行时的安全感：密歇根州底特律高空缺、低收入社区的心理健康、体力活动和心脏代谢健康的关系

生活在低收入社区的个人肥胖、2 型糖尿病和心脏代谢疾病的发病率异常高。邻里的安全感可能会影响压力和体力活动，从而对心脏代谢健康产生连锁反应。在这项研究中，我们研究了白天行走时的安全感与心理健康 [感知压力 (PSS)、抑郁评分]、中度至剧烈体力活动 (PA)、体重指数 (BMI) 和血红蛋白之间的关系A1C (A1C) 位于密歇根州底特律的低收入、高空置社区。我们招募了 69 名佩戴加速度计一周的成年人，并完成了一项关于人口统计、心理健康和邻里认知的调查。收集人体测量数据并使用 A1CNow 测试条测量 A1C。我们收集了全市空置建筑物和地块的空间数据。我们拟合了传统的多级回归模型来预测每个结果，使用白天行走期间的感知安全性作为感兴趣的自变量以及个人或个人和社区级别的协变量（例如，空地数量）。最后，我们根据感知安全性检查了社区特征的趋势。在这个以非裔美国人为主的样本中 (91%)，47% 的人在白天行走时感到不安全。完全调整后，感知安全感显着预测 PSS（β = − 2.34，p = 0.017）、抑郁评分（β = − 4.22，p = 0.006）和 BMI（β = − 2.87，p = 0.01）。对于 PA，我们发现仅与性别存在显着关联。对于 A1C，我们发现与家附近的枯萎地段存在显着关联。那些感到不安全的人居住在公园面积更大、破烂地块数量较多的社区。未来的研究需要评估一个关键途径，通过该途径，社区特征（包括空置或质量差的绿地）可能会通过减轻压力和对心脏代谢健康的影响来影响肥胖。