Neighborhood Disadvantage, Residential Stability, and Perceptions of Instrumental Support among New Mothers.

Abstract

Using longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study (N = 4,211), we examine neighborhood disadvantage and perceptions of instrumental support among mothers with young children. We find that: (a) living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with less instrumental support, particularly financial assistance, from family and friends; (b) residential stability is associated with stronger personal safety nets irrespective of neighborhood quality; and (c) mothers who move to a more disadvantaged neighborhood experience a small but significant decline in perceived instrumental support compared to those who do not move. In interpreting these results, we suggest instrumental support may be either a cause or consequence of living in an advantaged neighborhood, but, in either case, neighborhood and social network disadvantages go hand in hand.