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. 2012 Dec;102(12):e33-66.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300832. Epub 2012 Oct 18.

Ethnic density effects on physical morbidity, mortality, and health behaviors: a systematic review of the literature

Laia Bécares  1 , Richard Shaw, James Nazroo, Mai Stafford, Christo Albor, Karl Atkin, Kathleen Kiernan, Richard Wilkinson, Kate Pickett
Affiliations

Ethnic density effects on physical morbidity, mortality, and health behaviors: a systematic review of the literature

Laia Bécares et al. Am J Public Health. 2012 Dec.

Abstract

It has been suggested that people in racial/ethnic minority groups are healthier when they live in areas with a higher concentration of people from their own ethnic group, a so-called ethnic density effect. Ethnic density effects are still contested, and the pathways by which ethnic density operates are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature examining the ethnic density effect on physical health, mortality, and health behaviors. Most studies report a null association between ethnic density and health. Protective ethnic density effects are more common than adverse associations, particularly for health behaviors and among Hispanic people. Limitations of the literature include inadequate adjustment for area deprivation and limited statistical power across ethnic density measures and study samples.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Flow diagram showing review process for literature examining the effect of ethnic density on physical health, mortality, and health behaviors.
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