INDIVIDUAL-LEVEL INFLUENCES ON PERCEPTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOOD DISORDER: A MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS

Health outcomes are associated with aggregate neighborhood measures and individual neighborhood perceptions. In this study, the authors sought to delineate individual, social network, and spatial factors that may influence perceptions of neighborhood disorder. Multilevel regression analysis showed that neighborhood perceptions were more negative in neighborhoods with higher crime reports. Controlling for neighborhood crime, higher perceptions of disorder were associated with younger age, no main partner, nondrug use, higher depression, more network drug use, and more time on the street. Results suggest that neighborhood perceptions are based on objective factors, individual differences in experiences, and experience of others. Accounting for individual and community-level factors associated with neighborhood perceptions may help clarify association between neighborhood factors and physical and mental health and assist community-planning efforts. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.