Mediators of neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation and quality of life

Objective We examined associations between neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation and health-related quality of life, and estimated the mediating effects of individual-level lifestyle, housing, and perception of the neighbourhood environment. Methods Two different data sources were used: 1) neighbourhood- level objective socioeconomic indicators, and 2) individual-level questionnaires from a community survey (response rate: 48%) to assess quality of life, neighbourhood perceptions, housing variables, and lifestyle. Multilevel analyses were conducted using both neighbourhood-level and individual-level data. Results Neighbourhood-level socioeconomic deprivation was associated with two aspects of individual-level quality of life: mental health and perceived health. Individual-level neighbourhood perceptions regarding social cohesion mediated these associations. Lifestyle also had mediating effects. Conclusion Neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation variables may impact on the individual through cognitive mechanisms that are associated with appraisal of the wider social environment.