Neighborhood Cohesion, Disorder, and Physical Function in Older Adults: An Examination of Racial/Ethnic Differences.

This study examined the link between neighborhood social cohesion, disorder, and physical function in older adults, and identified potential racial/ethnic differences in these associations. Data come from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS; = 5,619). A series of linear regression models were used to predict physical function. Subgroup analyses and neighborhood/race interactions were used to examine differences. Neighborhood disorder was associated with poorer physical function ( < .05), while neighborhood cohesion was not ( = .06). Although tests of interactions were not significant, subgroup analyses showed that neighborhood disorder, and not social cohesion, was associated with poorer physical function only in Whites. Disadvantaged neighborhood social environment may contribute to differences in physical function among older adults. Racial and ethnic differences warrant closer investigation in studies of neighborhoods and functional health.