The Daily Role of Activity Spaces and Social Interactions for Depressive Symptoms among Urban-dwelling Black Emerging Adults
Open AccessDetrimental neighborhood characteristics such as crime and poverty are associated with increases in depressive symptoms (Mair et al., 2008). Despite evidence that the neighborhood context has implications for depressive symptoms, there are limitations in the operationalization and measurement of neighborhoods due to the use of residential addresses and administrative boundaries informed by past theories conceptualizing neighborhoods as discrete spaces (Bronfenbrenner & Morris, 1998; Goldstein et al., 2019; Sampson & Groves, 1989). The limitations of the past neighborhood research prevent fully understanding adolescent experiences in the neighborhoods in which they live and interact and lacks adequate ecological validity (Kwan, 2012). Different conceptualizations emphasizing the role of perceived experiences and dynamic movement within and between neighborhood spaces may provide the framework for a more nuanced and relevant understanding of community spaces and mental health (Aber & Nieto, 1990; Browning & Soller, 2014). However, research is limited in exploring activity spaces and neighborhoods and their role in depressive symptoms. To inform the development of an understanding and conceptualization that meet this need, this dissertation aimed to explore how Black emerging adults engage in daily activities in their community, their perceptions and experiences in their communities, and the possible association with depressive symptoms.
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