Introduction

A neighborhood’s built environment is associated with physical activity among its residents, and physical activity is associated with depression. Our study aimed to determine whether the built environment was associated with depression among residents of the rural South and whether observed associations were mediated by physical activity.

Methods

We selected 2,000 participants from the Bogalusa Heart Study who had a valid residential address, self-reported physical activity (minutes/week), and a complete Center for Epidemiologic Study–Depression (CES-D) scale assessment from 1 or more study visits between 1998 and 2013. We assessed the built environment with the Rural Active Living Assessment street segment audit tool and developed built environment scores. The association between built environment scores and depression (CES-D ≥16) in geographic buffers of various radii were evaluated by using modified Poisson regression, and mediation by physical activity was evaluated with mixed-effects models.

Results

Depression was observed in 37% of study participants at the first study visit. One-point higher physical security and aesthetic scores for the street segment of residence were associated with 1.07 times higher (95% CI, 1.02–1.11) and 0.96 times lower (95% CI, 0.92–1.00) baseline depression prevalence. One-point higher destination scores (ie, more commercial and civic facilities) in radius buffers of 0.25 miles or more were associated with 1.06 times (95% CI, 1.00–1.13) the risk of depression during follow-up. Neighborhood poverty (defined as percentage of residents with incomes below the federal poverty level and dichotomized at 28.3%) modified cross-sectional and longitudinal associations. Associations were not mediated by physical activity.

Conclusion

The built environment was associated with prevalence and risk of depression, and associations were stronger in high-poverty neighborhoods. Built environment improvements to promote physical activity should take neighborhood context into consideration to minimize negative side effects on mental health in high-poverty communities.