Do physical neighborhood characteristics matter in predicting traffic stress and health outcomes?

This study examines whether social, and physical environment characteristics related to urban design interact with individual perceptions of traffic stress to influence individual well-being. The Chinese American Psychiatric Epidemiologic Study data, the US census data, and geographic information system data are employed. Analyses used hierarchical linear modeling. The results indicate that perceived traffic stress was associated with lower health status and higher depression. More importantly, higher density of major streets and greater vehicular burden in the neighborhood pose potential harm to health by reinforcing the negative impacts of perceived traffic stress. On the other hand, more park land in the neighborhood could alleviate the damage of traffic stress on individual's well-being. The implications of the results for future research are discussed.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VN8-4M6S05W-1/2/16f02f4edfa730c023723c2f4de5ffbb
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Song, Yan
  • Gee, Gilbert C
  • Fan, Yingling
  • Takeuchi, David T
• Publication Date: 2007-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp. 164-176
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Census; Environment; Epidemiology; Geographic information systems; Health; Linear equations; Neighborhoods; Psychological aspects; Social factors; Stress (Psychology); Traffic; Urban design
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049742
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 25 2007 10:34AM