Although several studies show that self–esteem varies according to neighborhood context, few have directly examined potential mediators of this association. In this paper, we use longitudinal survey data from the Welfare, Children, and Families project (1999, 2001) to examine the association between perceived neighborhood disorder and self–esteem among low–income urban women with children in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, testing for city heterogeneity. Building on social disorganization theory and previous research, we examine the mediating influence of social support. Our longitudinal models show that higher levels of disorder at baseline are associated with lower levels of social support and self–esteem. We also observe that increases in disorder over the study period are associated with concurrent losses in social support and self–esteem. Our mediation analyses suggest that perceived neighborhood disorder may undermine self–esteem by limiting opportunities for social support. Reducing signs and perceptions of disorder by improving the social and physical landscapes of neighborhoods may uniquely contribute to self–worth of low–income urban women with children.
Desorden, Apoyo Social y Auto–Estima en Barrios: Evidencia de una Muestra de Mujeres de Bajos Ingresos en Tres Ciudades
Resumen
Aunque varios estudios muestran que la auto–estima varía de acuerdo al contexto del barrio, pocos han examinado directamente los mecanismos o variables mediadoras potenciales en esta asociación. En este artículo usamos una encuesta longitudinal del proyecto Welfare, Children and Families (1999, 2001) para examinar la asociación entre la percepción de desorden en el barrio y la auto–estima en mujeres y niños de bajos ingresos en Boston, Chicago y San Antonio, tomando en cuenta la heterogeneidad de la ciudad. A partir de la teoría de la desorganización social y de investigación previa, examinamos el efecto mediador del apoyo social. Nuestros modelos longitudinales muestran que los niveles más altos de desorden en la línea de base están asociados con menores niveles de apoyo social y de auto–estima. También observamos que aumentos en desorden durante el periodo de estudio están asociados simultáneamente con reducción del apoyo social y de la auto–estima. Nuestro estudio de la mediación sugiere que la percepción de desorden en el barrio podría disminuir la auto–estima al limitar las oportunidades de apoyo social. La reducción de las señales y percepciones de desorden a través de la mejora del medio físico y social de los barrios podrían contribuir de manera importante a la mejora de la auto–estima de mujeres y niños de bajos ingresos en ciudades.
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