Neighborhood Disadvantage, Residential Stability, and Perceptions of Instrumental Support among New Mothers

Publication Year
2010

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study (N = 4,211), we examine neighborhood disadvantage and perceptions of instrumental support among mothers with young children. We find that: (a) living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with less instrumental support, particularly financial assistance, from family and friends; (b) residential stability is associated with stronger personal safety nets irrespective of neighborhood quality; and (c) mothers who move to a more disadvantaged neighborhood experience a small but significant decline in perceived instrumental support compared to those who do not move. In interpreting these results, we suggest instrumental support may be either a cause or consequence of living in an advantaged neighborhood, but, in either case, neighborhood and social network disadvantages go hand in hand.

Journal
Journal of Family Issues
Volume
31
Issue
4
Pages
499-524
Call Number
2007-08-FF