Perceived neighborhood assets and anthropometric indicators in schoolchildren living in high-risk urban areas

Abstract

This study examined the association between perceived neighborhood assets and anthropometric markers in schoolchildren living in urban areas at high social risk, comparing findings for arm span with those observed for body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 164 schoolchildren (82 girls and 82 boys; aged 6–15 years) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. An adapted neighborhood assets scale was administered, and its internal structure was evaluated through exploratory factor analysis. The association between perceived community capital and arm span was estimated using hierarchical linear regression while adjusting for age and sex. BMI was examined as a comparative weight-related indicator. Factor analysis identified a three-factor structure with high internal consistency (α = 0.837–0.943). Sex comparisons showed no differences in age, BMI, or arm span, although community capital scores were higher among girls (p = 0.035). In the adjusted model, community capital was positively associated with arm span (β = 0.155; p = 0.004), increasing the explained variance by 2.2%. No significant associations were observed between community capital and BMI. These findings suggest that among schoolchildren living in socially adverse urban contexts, perceived community capital may be associated with a structural marker of physical growth but not with a weight-related indicator. Longitudinal studies are required to clarify the temporal nature and direction of these associations.