Neighborhood Change as a Social Determinant of Health: Assessing Associations with Mental Health and Psychosocial Attitudes Among Resident Clusters

Neighborhood change (NC) can be understood as a social determinant of health with direct psychosocial and economic impacts. Our objective was to define resident groups’ perceptions of NC and self-rated mental health in a community experiencing an intense form of NC known as gentrification. We conducted a cross-sectional study using random and convenience sampling. Our measures included a combination of scales and indexes that were used for conducting bivariate and cluster analyses. Our study included 143 responses from Phase II. Two of the three groups or clusters were statistically different in mental health and perceptions of NC impacts on community life, self-assessed vulnerability, and at-risk populations such as low-income and minoritized. We innovated a study design and use of cluster analysis that are not commonly found in gentrification health research. The practical implications of our study also can help support community health research beyond this field of study.