Neighborhood Environment and Stress: Findings from the ESSE-RF-3 Epidemiological Study

Introduction — Both Russian and international studies demonstrate that living environment and neighborhood characteristics have influence on health status, including mental well-being. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between neighborhood environment and individual likelihood of stress among the Russian population. Material and Methods — The multicentre study “Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors in the Regions of the Russian Federation. Third Survey” was conducted in 2020-2022 across 15 regions of Russia. The analysis included 28,731 men and women aged 35-74 years. Neighborhood infrastructure was assessed using the Russian version of the NEWS questionnaire, while stress was measured with the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen’s Scale). Associations between stress and neighborhood infrastructure characteristics were evaluated using logistic regression adjusted for covariates. Results were presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results — A lower likelihood of stress was associated with shorter distances from the place of residence to facilities (OR=0.91; 95% CI 0.87-0.94), greater accessibility of key facilities (OR=0.51; 95% CI 0.48-0.55), and improved traffic-related safety (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.56-0.66). In contrast, higher population density (OR=1.002; 95% CI 1.001-1.004), better pedestrian infrastructure quality (OR=1.16; 95% CI 1.10-1.22), and enhanced neighborhood aesthetics (OR=1.08; 95% CI 1.03-1.13) were associated with increased stress probability. Conclusion — The results of the study showed a substantial impact of certain neighborhood characteristics on stress, an indicator of mental health in the Russian population. The link between residential environment and mental health can be applicable in public health, policy-making, and urban planning.