“Feeling Disorder” as a Comparative and Contingent Process

Abstract

We explore the effects of neighborhood social disorder on internalizing symptoms among urban youth, focusing on three questions: First, we ask whether the impact of social disorder on internalizing symptoms results from comparisons to conditions measured locally or across the entire city. Second, we consider whether neighborhood collective efficacy modifies disorder’s effect on internalizing symptoms. Finally, we assess whether these effects vary by gender. Analyses of survey data of 2,367 youth from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods indicate social disorder is positively associated with girls’ internalizing symptoms when measured as a deviation from a “neighborhood cluster” (2–3 census tracts) mean. High collective efficacy within girls’ neighborhood cluster attenuates disorder effects on their internalizing symptoms. We find no evidence of disorder or collective efficacy effects on boys’ internalizing symptoms.

Mexican Origin Youths’ Trajectories of Perceived Peer Discrimination from Middle Childhood to Adolescence: Variation by Neighborhood Ethnic Concentration

“…Research based on social disorganization perspectives has produced inconsistent findings regarding the influence of neighborhood ethnic concentration (usually indicated by the percentage Latino in the neighborhood) on pan-racial/ethnic children’s development (see Leventhal & Brooks-Gunn, 2000 for a review), perhaps because neighborhoods do not have one-size-fits-all implications for youth development (Browning et al, 2013). Though social disorganization theory recognizes that neighborhood ethnic homogeneity should support the development of social networks capable of promoting positive youth development (usually operationalized in terms of behavioral and emotional health), it requires incorporation of culturally-informed perspectives on enclave communities to recognize that the percentage Latino in the neighborhood may have important and specific implications for co-ethnic youths’ development of cultural attitudes and identities (García Coll et al, 1996; Portes & Rumbaut, 2001; Rumbaut & Portes, 2001).…”

“…Residence in ethnically concentrated neighborhoods during middle childhood and adolescence may support co-ethnic youths to (a) develop positive ethnic identities, (b) develop positive attitudes toward in-group members, and (d) perceive less discrimination (García Coll & Marks, 2009). Consequently, neighborhood Latino ethnic concentration, rather than having one-neighborhood-fits-all implications for youth development reflected in social disorganization theoretical perspectives (see Browning, Soller, Gardner, & Brooks-Gunn, 2013 for a recent discussion), may have specific and unique implications for co-ethnics (García Coll et al, 1996). …”

Evaluating nighttime observational measures of neighborhood disorder: Validity of the nighttime NIfETy assessment

“…Neighborhood disorder is likely a source of stress for residents, and broken windows theory suggests that it sends a message that no one is “in charge,” which increases fear among residents, weakens informal social control, contributes to emigration and disinvestment in the neighborhood, and invites further criminal behavior and incivilities (Sampson & Raudenbush, 2004; Sampson et al, 2002; Wilson & Kelling, 1982). Because high levels of neighborhood disorder are associated with physical and mental health problems, unhealthy behaviors, and risk behaviors (Browning et al, 2013; Cohen et al, 2000; Franzini et al, 2009; Lambert et al, 2004; Ross & Mirowsky, 1999; Sampson et al, 2002), investigating the mechanisms by which neighborhood disorder may impact behavior is an important field of inquiry.…”

Individual-level exposure to disaster, neighborhood environmental characteristics, and their independent and combined associations with depressive symptoms in women

“…Thus people experiencing chronic stress prior to a disaster may be particularly vulnerable to adverse mental health afterwards. Within an individual’s environment, neighborhood factors such as economic disadvantage [6,7] and physical disorder [8,9] have been linked to increased depressive symptoms and decreased psychological well-being. In order to guide disaster preparedness and response, it is important to identify whether post-disaster depression varies by neighborhood conditions.…”