The Affects of Neighborhoods on Different Life Stages

Ellen and Turner synthesize a wide range of empirical research to understand how neighborhoods affect families, children, and people at different life stages. The authors find that neighborhoods do matter, and neighborhood conditions do significantly affect individual outcomes. The analysis identifies six significant neighborhood conditions: 1) quality of local services, 2) socialization by adults, 3) peer influences, 4) social networks, 5) exposure to crime and violence, and 6) physical distance and isolation.

The article focuses on how these six factors impact children and adolescents. For example, the quality of local services notably includes the caliber of public schools, child care centers, and access to medical care. Socialization of adults provides a set of actions and communications for the younger generation to consider as normative role models. Peer influences are especially critical to the development of adolescents as they begin to interact with peers outside of their nuclear families. What the community deems as acceptable behavior for one adolescent will affect the behavior of others. Neighborhood geographies may also influence access to social networks, which provide access to social support and economic opportunities.

In contrast, the influence of neighborhoods on adults is likely to be markedly distinct from those affects on children and adolescents. Neighborhoods likely play a smaller role in influence behavior and values, and instead serve as a larger resource to services, information, and economic opportunities. For example, studies demonstrate that adults who move to the suburbs and predominately white neighborhoods significantly improve their chances for employment. Neighborhood residence also impacts the probability of receiving welfare [after controlling for personal characteristics].

Still, Ellen and Turner recognize that there are serious methodological challenges and suggests caution in interpretation the evidence. Furthermore, there is no agreement as to which neighborhood characteristics affect what outcomes, or what types of families are most influenced by certain neighborhood conditions. On the whole, the existing research is weak in terms of demonstrating the causal relationship between neighborhood environment and individual well-being. Turner highlights the need for continue further empirical research on how and for whom neighborhoods matters.

Ingrid Gould Ellen and Margery Austin Turner, Does Neighborhood Matter? Assessing Recent Evidence, Housing Policy Debate 8 (4) 833-866 (1997).

Jenny Cheung