Neighborhood disadvantage and anger among older adults: social comparisons as effect modifiers

J Health Soc Behav. 2006 Jun;47(2):156-72. doi: 10.1177/002214650604700205.

Abstract

Using data from a sample of 1,136 adults ages 65 and older in the District of Columbia and two adjoining counties in Maryland, we examine the association between neighborhood structural disadvantage and levels of anger. In addition, we test whether subjective financial comparisons with neighbors modify those effects differently for elders at different levels of income. We find that the association between neighborhood disadvantage and anger is positive among lower-income elders who feel financially advantaged relative to their neighbors. In contrast, the association between neighborhood disadvantage and anger is positive among higher-income elders who feel financially disadvantaged relative to their neighbors. Irrespective of income, neighborhood disadvantage is unrelated to anger among people who feel financially similar to their neighbors. We discuss the implications of our findings for the study of neighborhood context and health, underscoring interrelationships among inequality, social comparisons, and the stress process.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anger*
  • Cost of Illness
  • Depression / economics
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • District of Columbia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly / psychology*
  • Frail Elderly / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Maryland / epidemiology
  • Poverty Areas
  • Residence Characteristics / classification*
  • Social Justice*
  • Social Problems / economics
  • Social Problems / psychology*
  • Social Support*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Stress, Psychological / economics
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Vulnerable Populations / psychology*
  • Vulnerable Populations / statistics & numerical data