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Neighbourhood Structure and Health Promotion pp 93–115Cite as

Methods to Measure Neighbourhoods and Analyse Their Impact on Health: An Overview

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Abstract

Empirical studies on the influence of neighbourhood conditions on health outcomes face several challenges, which we discuss in this chapter. As empirical analysis ideally follows theory, we begin with presenting a conceptual framework which links social position, neighbourhood environment and health. We will then use this framework to illustrate various methods to (a) define and delineate neighbourhoods including administrative and ego-centred boundaries, (b) measure neighbourhood exposures referring to derived and integral neighbourhood variables as well as specific ecometric methods, (c) explore neighbourhood effects on health outcomes based on statistical models of the mixed model framework and potential extensions, e.g. interaction effects, non-linear effects as well as spatial models and (d) incorporate time as well as timing in the analysis by using methods of panel data analysis and concepts of life course epidemiology.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This conceptualisation differs from the one of Chap. 15 in this book. This chapter refers to the theory of Steinkamp and regards neighbourhood as part of the Meso level including family, peer group and workplace, while Chap. 15 refers to the “Social-Ecological Model” as proposed by Bronfenbrenner and conceptualises neighbourhood as part of the exosystem which lies between the mesosystem and the macrosystem.

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Acknowledgements

The work for this chapter was partly supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG), grant number: RA 889/2-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section on Quality of Health Care, Health Economics, Health System Analysis, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Eggenreuther Weg 43, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

    Sven Voigtländer

  2. Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, 10 01 31, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany

    Sven Voigtländer & Oliver Razum

  3. Department of Medical Informatics, Biostatistics and Epidemiology (IBE), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Germany

    Ursula Berger

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  1. Sven Voigtländer
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  3. Ursula Berger
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Correspondence to Sven Voigtländer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Unit for Health Promotion Research, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Vej 9-10, Esbjerg, 6700, Denmark

    Christiane Stock

  2. , MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Lilybank Gardens 4, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, United Kingdom

    Anne Ellaway

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Voigtländer, S., Razum, O., Berger, U. (2013). Methods to Measure Neighbourhoods and Analyse Their Impact on Health: An Overview. In: Stock, C., Ellaway, A. (eds) Neighbourhood Structure and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6672-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6672-7_6

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