The relationship between neighbourhood retail and mental health over time: a study with panel data

Abstract This study examines associations between the availability of different types of neighbourhood retail stores and depression prevalence, a proxy for mental health, in deprived, mid-deprived, and non-deprived neighbourhoods over time (2018–2022). It used quantitative secondary data, included eleven types of retail stores, applied panel regression models, and adjusted for neighbourhood physical and sociodemographic characteristics. Across the adjusted and within-neighbourhood models collectively, seven types of neighbourhood retail stores (festivity venues, fast-food outlets, banks, personal services, betting shops, clothing shops, and motoring outlets) were associated with depression prevalence across all deprivation contexts, although the patterns did not necessarily persist between the two modelling approaches. Four other retail types (food outlets, nightclubs, food/drink/multi-item shops, and household/office/leisure/garden stores) were associated with depression prevalence only in particular deprivation contexts. These findings may help inform planning, retail property, and public health decision-making across neighbourhoods with varying levels of deprivation.