Neighborhood Disadvantage and Health

Our research examines the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and mental health. These studies leverage a natural experiment in which refugees to Denmark were dispersed nearly randomly across the country. This allows us to examine the effects of various modifiable neighborhood-level characteristics on mental health among adults and children. The goal is to inform the development of clinical, community, and policy strategies to address place-based determinants impacting vulnerable populations.

Projects

Child and Adult Mental Health

Funding: NIA R01

Recent Publications:

Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and psychiatric disorders among refugees: a population-based, quasi-experimental study in Denmark.

Author(s): Foverskov E, White JS, Norredam M, Frøslev T, Kim MH, Glymour MM, Pedersen L, Sørensen HT, Hamad RJournal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr EpidemiolPMID: 35597890 May 2023

Risk of Psychiatric Disorders Among Refugee Children and Adolescents Living in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.

Author(s): Foverskov E, White JS, Frøslev T, Sørensen HT, Hamad RJournal: JAMA PediatrPMID: 36094528 November 2022

Brief: Refugee Resettlement and Mental Health

September 2022

Neighborhood Deprivation and Mental Health Among Immigrants to Sweden.

Author(s): Raphael E, White JS, Li X, Cederin K, Glymour MM, Sundquist K, Sundquist J, Hamad RJournal: EpidemiologyPMID: 31977591 May 2020

Risk Factors for Chronic Disease and Mortality

Funding: NIA R01; NHLBI K08

Recent Publications:

Immigrants to the United States contribute to society: Here are 3 ways to support their transition.

Author(s): Hamad RJournal: Health Aff SchPMID: 38435810 March 2024

The number of migrants entering the United States in 2023 shattered records. Despite prevailing narratives, immigrants, on average, contribute substantially…

The association of neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics with cardiovascular health: A quasi-experimental study of refugees to Denmark.

Author(s): Jensen NK, Frøslev T, Foverskov E, Glymour M, Sørensen HT, Hamad RJournal: Health PlacePMID: 37844523 October 2023

Neighborhood disadvantage and the risk of dementia and mortality among refugees to Denmark: A quasi-experimental study.

Author(s): Kim MH, Foverskov E, Frøslev T, White JS, Glymour MM, Hainmueller J, Pedersen L, Sørensen HT, Hamad RJournal: SSM Popul HealthPMID: 36589275 November 2022

The association of residential racial segregation with health among U.S. children: A nationwide longitudinal study.

Author(s): Wang G, Schwartz GL, Kershaw KN, McGowan C, Kim MH, Hamad RJournal: SSM Popul HealthPMID: 36238814 October 2022