Changes of perceived Neighbourhood environment: A longitudinal study of collective efficacy among vulnerable families.

Abstract

Neighbourhood level factors are associated with individual's behaviours but limited empirical research investigate the long-term changes of neighbourhood factors, especially neighbourhood collective efficacy. Moreover, the longitudinal effects of neighbourhood structural factors on neighbourhood process factors worth further research. Thus, the current study examined the (1) the long-term trajectory of collective efficacy; (2) whether the time-varying neighbourhood structural factors are associated with collective efficacy over time. Using the four waves of FFCWS data (N=4898), the current research found that neighbourhood social cohesion and informal social control increased over time, and the changes of neighbourhood structural factors are associated with the changes of collective efficacy over time. Identifying the dynamic changes of neighbourhood factors would benefit the further investigations of the influences of neighbourhood factors on individuals, and the implications of the findings were discussed.