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Neighborhood Characteristics MeSH Descriptor Data 2025
for issues concerning health, coordinate with SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH; specify geographic location if pertinent
Scope Note
Characteristics that may describe the demographic, social, built environment, or economic characteristics of a geographic area in which people live and can affect health and well-being of neighborhood residents. Neighborhood environments include the physical environment (unsafe air/water), built environment (sidewalks/greenspace) and the social environment (safety, sense of community).
Characteristics that may describe the demographic, social, built environment, or economic characteristics of a geographic area in which people live and can affect health and well-being of neighborhood residents. Neighborhood environments include the physical environment (unsafe air/water), built environment (sidewalks/greenspace) and the social environment (safety, sense of community).
Neighborhood disadvantage refers to the lack of economic and social resources in a neighborhood and has been shown to exert a detrimental effect on health outcomes over and above individual level characteristics.