Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review

Alderton, Amanda; Villanueva, Karen; O’Connor, Meredith; Boulangé, Claire; Badland, Hannah

doi:10.3390/ijerph16091516

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Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review

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Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia

Centre for Community Child Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne 3052, Australia

Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia

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ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods, The Australian National University, Canberra 0200, Australia

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(9), 1516; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091516

Received: 29 March 2019 / Revised: 18 April 2019 / Accepted: 27 April 2019 / Published: 29 April 2019

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Inequalities in Children)

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Abstract

Background: Optimal mental health in early childhood is key to later mental health, physical health, education, and social outcomes; yet, children facing disadvantage tend to have worse mental health and fewer opportunities to develop this foundation. An emerging body of research shows that neighborhoods provide important opportunities for the development of children’s mental health. Synthesizing this evidence can advance understandings of the features of the neighborhood built environment (e.g., housing, parks) that (1) promote optimal mental health in childhood and (2) reduce mental health inequities. Methods: We systematically searched and critically reviewed the international quantitative literature investigating associations between the neighborhood built environment and young children’s mental health. Results: 14 articles met inclusion criteria; most examined nature or public open space. Studies tended to find greater access to or quantity of neighborhood nature or public open space were associated with better mental health. Significant gaps included a lack of studies investigating social infrastructure, and few studies examined how the built environment related to positive mental health (i.e., functioning, rather than problems). Conclusions: Current evidence suggests there is some relationship, but additional research is needed that addresses these gaps and examines differences in associations between child subgroups (e.g., diverse socioeconomic backgrounds). View Full-Text

Keywords: children; health inequalities; mental health; neighborhood effects; social determinants; socio-ecological model; urban planning

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Alderton, A.; Villanueva, K.; O’Connor, M.; Boulangé, C.; Badland, H. Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 1516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091516

AMA Style

Alderton A, Villanueva K, O’Connor M, Boulangé C, Badland H. Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019; 16(9):1516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091516

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alderton, Amanda, Karen Villanueva, Meredith O’Connor, Claire Boulangé, and Hannah Badland. 2019. "Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 9: 1516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091516

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Reducing Inequities in Early Childhood Mental Health: How Might the Neighborhood Built Environment Help Close the Gap? A Systematic Search and Critical Review

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