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What is the ‘neighbourhood’ in neighbourhood effects research – the Irish context?

What is the ‘neighbourhood’ in neighbourhood effects research – the Irish context?. Amanda Quail Carol McGuinness Mark McCann Queen’s University Belfast. Outline. Why consider ‘neighbourhood effects’? Issues in defining ‘neighbourhood’ Description of Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) data

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What is the ‘neighbourhood’ in neighbourhood effects research – the Irish context?

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  1. What is the ‘neighbourhood’ in neighbourhood effects research – the Irish context? Amanda Quail Carol McGuinness Mark McCann Queen’s University Belfast

  2. Outline • Why consider ‘neighbourhood effects’? • Issues in defining ‘neighbourhood’ • Description of Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) data • Compositional and structural ‘neighbourhood’ characteristics • How do nine-year-old children and their parents perceive the neighbourhoods in which they live in terms of safety, physical condition and service provision? • Do parents and children view their neighbourhoods differently? • Next steps

  3. Why consider ‘neighbourhood effects’ • Increasing recognition that the neighbourhood within which children live can have an impact on child outcomes • Bronfenbrenner ‘social-ecological theory’ • Neighbourhoods can impact child outcomes through both structural and compositional characteristics • Structural – material infrastructure, availability and access to resources and services • Compositional – characteristics of residents and collective social functioning

  4. Some findings about ‘neighbourhood effects’ • Xue et al (2005) – children in low-SES neighbourhoods more likely to have mental health problems • Grow et al (2010) - obesity most common in children living in low-SES neighbourhoods • McCulloch & Joshi (2001) – neighbourhood deprivation related to lower test scores

  5. Issues in defining ‘neighbourhood’ • Boundaries • Modifiable Areal Unit Problem • Meaningful boundaries • On the edges • Characteristics • Outcome-dependent • Data sources

  6. Description of Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) data • GUI Child Cohort Wave 1 – 8,500 nine-year-old children • Large, nationally representative sample • Parent and nine-year-old child’s perceptions of the neighbourhood in which they live • Linked to Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) – compositional characteristics • Multiple measures of family SES • Numerous child outcomes – health, educational, socio-emotional domains

  7. Compositional ‘neighbourhood’ characteristics - SAPS • ‘Neighbourhood’ defined as Electoral District • Neighbourhood SES • % unemployed • % lower social class • % low education • Residential instability • % not living at same address one year earlier • % not owner-occupiers

  8. Perceptions of ‘neighbourhood’ characteristics • ‘Neighbourhood’ defined as ‘local area’ or ‘around here’ • Parent and child perceptions of: • Physical condition of the neighbourhood • Safety of the neighbourhood • Service availability

  9. How do nine-year old children perceive their neighbourhoods? • Physical condition of the neighbourhood • Too much traffic – 22% • Streets are dirty – 22% • A lot of graffiti – 22% • Safety of the neighbourhood • Feel safe living around here – 95% • Places for children to play safely near your house – 77%

  10. How do nine-year old children perceive their neighbourhoods? • Service availability • Good places to play – 83% • A green area to play – 82% • Activities to do after school – 76% • Public transport to school – 56% • A playground – 46% • Youth clubs – 43%

  11. How do parents perceive their neighbourhoods • Physical condition of the neighbourhood • Rubbish & litter lying about – 34% • People being drunk or taking drugs in public – 15% • Vandalism and deliberate damage to property – 15% • Homes & gardens in bad condition – 10% • Safety of the neighbourhood • Safe for children to play outside during the day – 91% • Safe to walk alone after dark 68% • Safe parks, playgrounds and play spaces – 58%

  12. How do parents perceive their neighbourhoods? • Service availability • Schools – 97% - Library – 77% • Grocery shopping – 94% -Public transport – 66% • GP or health clinic – 89% -Social welfare office – 63% • Banking / credit union – 82% - Recreational facilities – 57% • Involvement in community • Voluntary groups – 35% • Family in area – 62%

  13. How do children’s and parents’ view of their neighbourhoods differ?

  14. How do children’s and parents view of their neighbourhoods differ?

  15. How do children’s and parents’ view of their neighbourhoods differ?

  16. Summary of Findings so far.. • GUI rich data source for neighbourhood effects research • Overall, positive perceptions of safety and general service availability • Lower perception of physical condition of neighbourhood and recreational facilities for children • Children have a more positive view of their neighbourhoods than their parents in terms of safety and physical condition, with exception of graffiti/vandalism

  17. Next steps • Multilevel modelling – relationship between neighbourhood characteristics and child behavioural outcomes • Control for family background and individual child characteristics • Mechanisms through which neighbourhoods influence child outcomes

  18. Thank you Comments / Questions?

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