Abstract
Social capital provides access to material and personal resources through participation in social networks and other social structures. Social capital may not function equally for all populations, especially those living in residentially segregated urban neighborhoods with increased levels of poverty. This is because inequalities exist in social capital accumulation and are found where disadvantaged socioeconomic groups cluster. Using probabilistic household survey data consisting of 205 Puerto Rican mothers in Springfield, Massachusetts in 2013, this research tests hypotheses regarding the association of social capital accumulation with Puerto Rican mothers’ individual, neighborhood, and social network characteristics. Logistic regression results suggested that Puerto Rican mothers who were employed and lived in neighborhoods with other Latinos were more likely to accumulate social capital. In addition, mothers who participated in activities of their children also had increased social capital accumulation. This neighborhood effect on social capital accumulation may promote bonding social capital but not bridging social capital among these Puerto Rican mothers.
Highlights
Social capital is a mechanism for people to access otherwise unavailable information and resources through their participation in social networks and other social structures [1]
Other research has identified that Mexicans, the largest Latino population in the United States, accumulate social capital through their employment and from living in neighborhoods with increased homeownership [3]
Puerto Rican mothers’ facility in accumulating bonding social capital developed through relationships with others who are primarily like themselves, in place of bridging social capital developed through relationships with others across pronounced social divisions may be problematic
Summary
Social capital is a mechanism for people to access otherwise unavailable information and resources through their participation in social networks and other social structures [1]. Social capital is important for Latinos as they develop an increased presence in the United States, so that they can access non-pecuniary resources to strengthen their socioeconomic position. Other research has identified that Mexicans, the largest Latino population in the United States, accumulate social capital through their employment and from living in neighborhoods with increased homeownership [3]. Especially in cities with a newly arriving population, could weaken the mechanisms through which social capital is accumulated [4]. Puerto Rican mothers’ facility in accumulating bonding social capital developed through relationships with others who are primarily like themselves (e.g., ethnicity, family, age, educational attainment), in place of bridging social capital developed through relationships with others across pronounced social divisions (e.g., race, class, or religion) may be problematic
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