# Neighborhood Deprivation Associated with Impaired Sit-to-Stand Performance in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis with Clinical Implications

## TL;DR

Neighborhood deprivation is linked to worse mobility in older adults, especially in sit-to-stand movements, suggesting a need for targeted interventions in disadvantaged areas.

## Contribution

This study shows that socioeconomic disadvantage at the neighborhood level is associated with specific mobility impairments in aging populations.

## Key findings

- Higher area deprivation is significantly linked to poorer performance on sit-to-stand mobility tests.
- The sit-to-stand phase of mobility is particularly affected by neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage.
- These associations remain significant even after adjusting for age, weight, race, and education.

## Abstract

This manuscript examines the relationship between area-level socioeconomic disadvantage and mobility health in community-dwelling adults (60 ± 16 years). Using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) as a measure of neighborhood disadvantage, we investigate its association with performance on two key mobility assessments: the Instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG) test and the Instrumented Five Times Sit-to-Stand (i5TSTS) test.What are the main findings?Our findings reveal significant links between higher area deprivation and poorer mobility outcomes, particularly in lower limb strength and sit-to-stand transitions.What are the implications of the main findings?This study contributes to our understanding of how socioeconomic factors influence functional health in aging populations and has implications for developing targeted interventions to promote healthy aging in disadvantaged communities.

What are the main findings?Our findings reveal significant links between higher area deprivation and poorer mobility outcomes, particularly in lower limb strength and sit-to-stand transitions.

Our findings reveal significant links between higher area deprivation and poorer mobility outcomes, particularly in lower limb strength and sit-to-stand transitions.

What are the implications of the main findings?This study contributes to our understanding of how socioeconomic factors influence functional health in aging populations and has implications for developing targeted interventions to promote healthy aging in disadvantaged communities.

This study contributes to our understanding of how socioeconomic factors influence functional health in aging populations and has implications for developing targeted interventions to promote healthy aging in disadvantaged communities.

Background: Socioeconomic factors significantly influence health outcomes in older adults, yet their impact on specific aspects of mobility remains unclear. This study investigates the relationship between area-level socioeconomic disadvantage and mobility health in older adults. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 110 community-dwelling older adults recruited and collected using voluntary response sampling at eight health fairs across rural Southeast Alabama in 2022–2024 (60 ± 16 years, 80% female). Area-level socioeconomic status was measured using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated composite measure of neighborhood disadvantage. Mobility was assessed using the Instrumented Timed Up and Go (iTUG) test and the Instrumented Five Times Sit-to-Stand (i5TSTS) test. Kruskal–Wallis tests and general linear models in SAS 9.4 analyzed the relationship between ADI and mobility measures. Results: Higher ADI scores were significantly associated with poorer performance on the i5TSTS test (p = 0.0004). While overall iTUG duration did not differ significantly across ADI groups, the sit-to-stand phase of the iTUG showed a significant relationship with ADI (p = 0.0026). These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, weight, race, and education level. Conclusions: These findings suggest that neighborhood context plays a crucial role in mobility health, particularly in functions related to postural transitions. Clinicians should consider area-level disadvantage when screening for mobility limitations and may need to prioritize sit-to-stand interventions for patients living in high-deprivation areas.