Associations between Urban Sprawl and Life Expectancy in the United States

Shima Hamidi · Reid Ewing · Zaria Tatalovich · James B. Grace · David A. Berrigan

78 citations0/0 files storedInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

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Urban Transport and Accessibility Health disparities and outcomes Urban Green Space and Health

Abstract

In recent years, the United States has had a relatively poor performance with respect to life expectancy compared to the other developed nations. Urban sprawl is one of the potential causes of the high rate of mortality in the United States. This study investigated cross-sectional associations between sprawl and life expectancy for metropolitan counties in the United States in 2010. In this study, the measure of life expectancy in 2010 came from a recently released dataset of life expectancies by county. This study modeled average life expectancy with a structural equation model that included five mediators: annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per household, average body mass index, crime rate, and air quality index as mediators of sprawl, as well as percentage of smokers as a mediator of socioeconomic status. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, this study found that life expectancy was significantly higher in compact counties than in sprawling counties. Compactness affects mortality directly, but the causal mechanism is unclear. For example, it may be that sprawling areas have higher traffic speeds and longer emergency response times, lower quality and less accessible health care facilities, or less availability of healthy foods. Compactness affects mortality indirectly through vehicle miles traveled, which is a contributor to traffic fatalities, and through body mass index, which is a contributor to many chronic diseases. This study identified significant direct and indirect associations between urban sprawl and life expectancy. These findings support further research and practice aimed at identifying and implementing changes to urban planning designed to support health and healthy behaviors.

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References

2005A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century 2006Structural Equation Modeling and Natural Systems 2005A Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the United States in the 21st Century 2005Income inequality and population health: A review and explanation of the evidence 2005Deaths: preliminary data for 2003.2003Relationship between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity 2007The Built Environment and Obesity 2008The Gap Gets Bigger: Changes In Mortality And Life Expectancy, By Education, 1981–2000

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