# Neighborhood Social Environment, Composition and Depression in Latinx

> **NIH NIH F31** · COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE · 2024 · $39,146

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United
States. Further, Latinos in the US represent one of the fastest growing ethnic groups and report the second
highest rates of depression, making their growing presence in neighborhoods and their well-being relevant to
the overall success of the nation. Yet the effects of neighborhood-level factors on depression, particularly in
Latinos, remains understudied. There exists a paucity of research that examines the effect of residential
segregation on mental health. Fewer still has assessed causal pathways— including through neighborhood
features such as neighborhood social cohesion (NSC) and neighborhood problems (NP)—using rigorous
quantitative methodologies. Additionally, NSC is of particular interest due to the potential mental health
benefits it may have. However, the literature examining for what subgroup of Latinos NSC is most helpful for
depression and what the spatial relationship may be is limited. In an effort to address these gaps, I will
examine 1) The direct and indirect effect of residential segregation on depressive symptoms at two time points
in Latinos through individual-level NSC and NP, 2) The cross-sectional direct and indirect effect of residential
segregation on depressive symptoms in Latinos through neighborhood-level NSC and NP, 3) Effect
modification of the association between individual level NSC on depressive symptoms by language proficiency
while accounting for neighborhood differences, and Exploratory) To explore the spatial relationship between
individual-level NSC and depressive symptoms in Latinos. Method & Analysis: This dissertation study will
employ multilevel models in order to account for clustering in two population-based datasets: the Latino sample
in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and its ancillary Neighborhood Study (Aim 1,2) and the Hispanic
Community Health Survey/Study of Latinos and its Sociocultural Ancillary Study (Aim 3). In order to address
gaps in the literature I will 1) carryout a mediation analysis using a multilevel model across two time points
(2003, 2010) to examine the direct and indirect effects of residential segregation on depressive symptoms
through individual-level NSC and NP (AIM 1). To address same source bias in using individual-level NSC and
NP as mediators, a cross-sectional (2010) multilevel model will be used to examine the direct and indirect
effects of residential segregation on depressive symptoms using neighborhood-level measures of NSC and NP
(AIM 2). Multilevel models will also be employed to examine effect modification of the association between
NSC and depressive symptoms by language proficiency (AIM 3). Contributions: The 2-year training program
and dissertation proposed in this F-31 fellowship application will support me in developing skills and methods
in neighborhood effects research critical to the completion of my dissertation study and doctoral research
tr...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10833481
- **Project number:** 5F31MH132290-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIV NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE
- **Principal Investigator:** Sarah Valentina Diaz
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $39,146
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10833481

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10833481, Neighborhood Social Environment, Composition and Depression in Latinx (5F31MH132290-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10833481. Licensed CC0.

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