A multilevel path analysis of social networks and social interaction in the neighbourhood Pauline van den Berg Harry Timmermans

Introduction Neighbourhood-based social contacts Social network literature: declining role of neighbourhoods Urban planning literature: increasing attention (urban renewal policies) Empirical findings are scarce and inconclusive

Introduction Neighbourhood-based social contacts Socio-demographic characteristics Neighbourhood characteristics

Structure Data collection Descriptives Path analysis results

Data collection Quality of life questionnaire May 2011 In 70 neighbourhoods in Eindhoven

Personal approach 751 completed questionnaires

Sample MeanSt. dev. Age Full time work: >36 hours (dummy) No work (dummy) Low income: < € 1000,- per month after tax (dummy) High income > € 3000,- per month after tax (dummy) Low education: primary (dummy) High education: BSc or higher (dummy) Child(ren) under 18 in household (dummy) Club memberships (nr) Western immigrant (dummy) Non-western immigrant (dummy) Years in current address Mean household income in neighbourhood (x €1000) % non-western immigrants in neighbourhood Urban: >2500 addresses per km 2 (dummy)

Network size and share of neighbours Think about the people you feel very close to: - discuss important matters, - regularly keep in touch with, - are there if you need help somewhat close to: - more than just casual acquaintances Network sizemean 24.85st. dev Share of neighboursmean 10.14st. dev # direct relatives …………# other relatives ……….. # colleagues ……………..# club members ……….. # neighbours ………………# other friends ………….

Interaction with neighbours Frequency of interaction N % Never (0) Once a month or less (1) or 3 times per month (2.5) Once a week (4) Several times per week (12) (almost) every day (24)

Methods Path analysis −Can capture the relationships between several dependent and independent variables −Special case of structural equation modeling (SEM) −Deals only with measured variables

Methods Path analysis −Can capture the relationships between several dependent and independent variables −Special case of structural equation modeling (SEM) −Deals only with measured variables Multilevel path analysis −Captures hierarchical structure of the data

Model structure % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results single-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Results multi-level model % neighbours in network Age Work Income Children Club memberships Education Non-western immigrant Western immigrant Years in address Neighbourhood income % Non-west. immigrants Urban Social network size Interaction frequency

Conclusions Socio-demographics are more important than neighbourhood characteristics in explaining contacts with neighbours

Conclusions Socio-demographics are more important than neighbourhood characteristics in explaining contacts with neighbours Contacts with neighbours higher for people with longer residence and more time at home

Conclusions Socio-demographics are more important than neighbourhood characteristics in explaining contacts with neighbours Contacts with neighbours higher for people with longer residence and more time at home Limited effects of neighbourhood characteristics

Conclusions Socio-demographics are more important than neighbourhood characteristics in explaining contacts with neighbours Contacts with neighbours higher for people with longer residence and more time at home Limited effects of neighbourhood characteristics Difference between single and multi-level model

A multilevel path analysis of social networks and social interaction in the neighbourhood Pauline van den Berg Harry Timmermans