@article{discovery1488652, note = {This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.}, pages = {3239--3248}, journal = {Psychological Medicine}, month = {November}, number = {15}, title = {Trajectories of childhood neighbourhood cohesion and adolescent mental health: evidence from a national Canadian cohort.}, year = {2015}, volume = {45}, issn = {1469-8978}, keywords = {Behaviour problems, mental health, neighbourhood cohesion, social environment, youth}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine associations between trajectories of childhood neighbourhood social cohesion and adolescent mental health and behaviour. METHOD: This study used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, a nationally representative sample of Canadian children. The sample included 5577 children aged 0-3 years in 1994-1995, prospectively followed until age 12-15 years. Parental perceived neighbourhood cohesion was assessed every 2 years. Latent growth class modelling was used to identify trajectories of neighbourhood cohesion. Mental health and behavioural outcomes were self-reported at age 12-15 years. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between neighbourhood cohesion trajectories and outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Five distinct trajectories were identified: 'stable low' (4.2\%); 'moderate increasing' (9.1\%); 'stable moderate' (68.5\%); 'high falling' (8.9\%); and 'stable high' (9.3\%). Relative to those living in stable moderately cohesive neighbourhoods, those in stable low cohesive neighbourhoods were more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety/depression [odds ratio (OR) = 1.73, 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-2.90] and engage in indirect aggression (OR = 1.62, 95\% CI 1.07-2.45). Those with improvements in neighbourhood cohesion had significantly lower odds of hyperactivity (OR = 0.67, 95\% CI 0.46-0.98) and indirect aggression (OR = 0.69, 95\% CI 0.49-0.96). In contrast, those with a decline in neighbourhood cohesion had increased odds of hyperactivity (OR = 1.67, 95\% CI 1.21-2.29). Those in highly cohesive neighbourhoods in early childhood were more likely to engage in prosocial behaviour ('high falling': OR = 1.93, 95\% CI 1.38-2.69; 'stable high': OR = 1.89, 95\% CI 1.35-2.63). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that neighbourhood cohesion in childhood may have time-sensitive effects on several domains of adolescent mental health and behaviour.}, author = {Kingsbury, M and Kirkbride, JB and McMartin, SE and Wickham, ME and Weeks, M and Colman, I}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291715001245} }