Abstract
The Menec framework relies on a set of ecological principles that determine the level of social connectivity, including the person-environment fit. . Environment can be measured either in terms of self-reported barriers or as geographical based measures of the physical and social environment. We used both types of measures to determine how they relate to one another and to key health outcomes. Building on our previous model that showed the association of self-reported environmental barriers to health outcomes, we added a measure of neighborhood distress that includes number of murders, vacant properties and corner stores. The distress measure was linked with each case at the Census Tract. Findings reveal an association of distressed neighborhood to health outcomes while the self-reported measures also remain significantly associated with these outcomes. We conclude that using multiple types of environmental measures can better describe the association between the individual and their environment.