The path to mental health: Associations between walkability and depression prevalence in west Virginia

• DOI: 10.30574/ijsra.2025.15.2.1593
• Publication Date: 2025-06-01T07:21:47Z
• Authors: Sadaf Adhami; Arman Moradi
• Keywords: Walkability; Depression; West virginia

Despite increasing awareness of walkable neighborhoods’ health benefits, the relationship between walkability and mental remains unclear. This study examined depression in West Virginia which has highest rate according to 2023 CDC report. Increasing neighborhood was hypothesized result a reduction encounters. Using most recent census tract boundaries (N = 546), National Walkability Index (NWI) scores were aggregated from 2019 block group data tract-level averages. Depression prevalence obtained PLACES, population sourced U.S. Census Bureau. Multiple imputations applied address missing as mismatches NWI 2024 boundaries, regression analyses conducted using both imputed complete-case datasets. In model, no significant association found (β 0.03, p 0.631). However, model revealed small but statistically positive 0.04, 0.046). Population showed consistent inverse with models. Contrary prior assumptions, higher associated increased analysis. These findings highlight complex built environment suggest that alone may not be protective against depression. Future studies should incorporate additional contextual sociodemographic factors while examining such relationship.