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Residential mobility and prosocial development within a single city
Daniel Tumminelli O'Brien1, Andrew C Gallup, David Sloan Wilson
1Department of Biology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA. dobrien1@binghamton.edu
American Journal of Community Psychology
|September 15, 2011
Summary
Adolescents who moved to more stable neighborhoods showed increased prosocial behavior. Neighborhood stability, not just social support, influences positive social development in youth.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Urban Studies
Background:
- Neighborhood social dynamics significantly influence resident behavior, including prosociality.
- Residential mobility may alter exposure to different social environments, impacting development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if residential moves to neighborhoods with varying social dynamics influence adolescent prosocial development.
- To compare the impact of social support and neighborhood characteristics on prosociality in adolescent movers versus non-movers.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study tracking prosociality, social support, and residential location in 397 adolescents (2006-2009).
- Comparative analysis of movers and non-movers, examining social support domains and neighborhood of residence effects.
- Assessment of neighborhood residential stability as a factor in prosocial development.
Main Results:
- Both movers and non-movers showed similar responses to various forms of social support, including neighbor support.
- Adolescent movers exhibited greater increases in prosociality when residing in neighborhoods with higher residential stability.
- Neighborhood residential stability did not influence the prosocial development of non-movers.
Conclusions:
- Residential stability of a neighborhood is a key factor influencing the prosocial development of adolescents who move.
- While social support is important, the characteristics of the new neighborhood environment play a crucial role in shaping positive social behavior in mobile youth.
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