Cumulative and Relative Disadvantage as Long-Term Determinants of Negative Self-feelings

    Authors

    H. Pals;H. B. Kaplan

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Sociol. Inq.

    Keywords

    SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; MENTAL-HEALTH; NEIGHBORHOOD DISADVANTAGE; GENDER-DIFFERENCES; DEVIANT IDENTITY; DOUBLE JEOPARDY; STREET YOUTH; LIFE-COURSE; DEPRIVATION; DEPRESSION; Sociology

    Abstract

    We analyze the long-term effects of neighborhood poverty and crime on negative self-feelings of young adults. Cumulative and relative disadvantage explanations are tested with the interactive effect of (1) neighborhood and individual-level economic disadvantage and (2) neighborhood crime and economic disadvantage. Results from a longitudinal study following adolescents to young adulthood show that the development of negative self-feelings (a combination of depression, anxiety, and self-derogation) is determined by relative, rather than cumulative disadvantage. The poor in affluent neighborhoods have the highest negative self-feelings, while the relatively wealthy in poor neighborhoods have the lowest negative self-feelings. Similarly, we find the highest increase in negative self-feelings is found in an affluent neighborhood with crime and not in a poor neighborhood with crime.

    Journal Title

    Sociological Inquiry

    Volume

    83

    Issue/Number

    1

    Publication Date

    1-1-2013

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    130

    Last Page

    153

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000313723200006

    ISSN

    0038-0245

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