Reconsideration of the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and individual health-related behaviors at multiple area levels

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K10450
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Osaka Metropolitan University (2022-2023); Osaka City University (2021)
• Principal Investigator: Kumagai Mika 大阪公立大学, 健康科学イノベーションセンター, 特任講師 (60527779)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 地域特性 / 社会経済環境 / 建造環境 / 健康関連行動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the context of "Health Japan 21 (Second Term)," where extending healthy life expectancy and reducing health disparities through improvements in the social environment are set as goals, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood characteristics, defined from socioeconomic and built environment perspectives, and individual health-related behaviors. It was shown that even within the specific study areas, regional characteristics at the postal code and 500-meter mesh levels were not uniform. The socioeconomic and built environment characteristics of the residential area were suggested to be one of the factors influencing individual health-related behaviors. The findings imply that health promotion in regions should consider the characteristics at a more detailed regional level than the municipal level and develop initiatives tailored to these specific characteristics.

Free Research Field

人文地理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

地域と個人の健康をつなぐ知見を，地域スケールと地域特性の異質性，類似性に沿って導出することにより，その成果は健康を維持するまちづくりやコミュニティデザインへと応用可能となる。本研究成果は，地域特性に応じた健康増進を検討するうえでのエビデンスの一つになり得る。公衆衛生対策において地域へアプローチすることの可能性を示すことができた。