How neighborhood and personal connections affect mental health for Black adults
The Impact of Individual- and Neighborhood-Level Social Connectedness on Mental Health in Black Adults
This project looks at how neighborhood ties, church support, and personal social connections relate to stress, depression, and emotional well‑being among Black adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251275 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I take part, researchers will use survey data from adults in Milwaukee and also invite people to interviews to share their experiences about neighborhood ties, church support, and friendships. They'll create a combined measure of social connectedness using questions about social integration, neighborhood cohesion, and religious support. Then they'll compare those connections with measures of psychological distress, depressive symptoms, and past depression diagnoses to see which types of ties seem protective. The team will use what people say to shape ideas for community or church-based supports that might help improve mental health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Black adults aged 21 and older, especially those living in Milwaukee or similar low-income urban neighborhoods, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: People who are not Black adults, who live in very different rural or suburban settings, or who need immediate clinical mental-health treatment are less likely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could point to community, church, or neighborhood supports that reduce distress and depression for Black adults.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research generally links stronger social connections with better mental health, but studies focused specifically on low-income Black adults and neighborhood-level ties are limited, so this project combines established ideas with new, focused analysis.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ransome, Yusuf — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Ransome, Yusuf
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.