Presenter
Ava Rose Esposito; Jenna McNeil
Document Type
Poster
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Childhood brain development can be disturbed by traumatic events. A crucial factor in one’s childhood is their surroundings, which includes the neighborhood in which they grew up. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is a correlation between feeling safe in neighborhoods as a child and adulthood anxiety. The Rhode Island Young Adult Survey, a digital cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted in 2022 and used to evaluate the behavior and mental health of 18–25-year-olds that have lived in RI for at least part of the year. The sample size of this survey is 1,022 participants. The hypothesis was not supported in that, there was no significant correlation between feeling unsafe in one’s neighborhood as a child and anxiety in adulthood. However, it was determined that certain demographics are at higher risk of anxiety in adulthood. Specifically, participants who identified as Asian, gender minorities, and women were at higher risk for anxiety in adulthood.
Faculty Mentor
Jonathan E. Mosko, Ph.D.
Academic Discipline
College of Arts & Sciences
Repository Citation
Esposito, Ava Rose; McNeil, Jenna; Botolino, Chris; and Phang, Jonah, "Neighborhood Safety in Childhood and Anxiety in Adulthood" (2025). Student Research Design & Innovation Symposium. 245.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/innov_symposium/245
