Title

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

Authors

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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