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Measuring the Social Environment: Social Cohesion and Material Deprivation in English and Scottish Neighbourhoods

Author

Listed:
  • Mai Stafford
  • Mel Bartley
  • Amanda Sacker
  • Michael Marmot
  • Richard Wilkinson

    (Division of Public Health Sciences, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham NG7 2UH, England)

  • Richard Boreham
  • Roger Thomas

Abstract

Despite increasing interest in macrosocial determinants of health, progress has been hampered by a lack of information on contextual factors and a lack of clarity in defining aspects of the social environment which may be important. A theoretical and empirical approach to measuring social cohesion in neighbourhoods in England and Scotland is described. Some forms of social networks, such as contact with friends and participation in organised groups, promoted trust, attachment to neighbourhood, and tolerance or respect for others. Notably, neighbourhoods in which family ties were predominant tended to be less tolerant. The cognitive aspects of social cohesion (trust, attachment, practical help, and tolerance or respect) tended to be lower in more materially deprived areas. Both the material and social characteristics of places may contribute to spatial variations in health.

Suggested Citation

  • Mai Stafford & Mel Bartley & Amanda Sacker & Michael Marmot & Richard Wilkinson & Richard Boreham & Roger Thomas, 2003. "Measuring the Social Environment: Social Cohesion and Material Deprivation in English and Scottish Neighbourhoods," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 35(8), pages 1459-1475, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:35:y:2003:i:8:p:1459-1475
    DOI: 10.1068/a35257
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. J. Lavis & Greg Stoddart, 1999. "Social Cohesion and Health," Department of Economics Working Papers 1999-10, McMaster University.
    2. Andrew McCulloch, 2001. "Ward-Level Deprivation and Individual Social and Economic Outcomes in the British Household Panel Study," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 33(4), pages 667-684, April.
    3. Macintyre, Sally & Ellaway, Anne & Cummins, Steven, 2002. "Place effects on health: how can we conceptualise, operationalise and measure them?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 125-139, July.
    4. Coburn, David, 2000. "Income inequality, social cohesion and the health status of populations: the role of neo-liberalism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 135-146, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nan Zhang & Jennifer L. Beauregard & Michael R. Kramer & Laia Bécares, 2017. "Neighbourhood Ethnic Density Effects on Behavioural and Cognitive Problems Among Young Racial/Ethnic Minority Children in the US and England: A Cross-National Comparison," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 36(5), pages 761-804, October.
    2. Stafford, Mai & Cummins, Steven & Ellaway, Anne & Sacker, Amanda & Wiggins, Richard D. & Macintyre, Sally, 2007. "Pathways to obesity: Identifying local, modifiable determinants of physical activity and diet," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1882-1897, November.
    3. Ross Barnett, J. & Pearce, Jamie & Howes, Pamela, 2006. "'Help, educate, encourage?': Geographical variations in the provision and utilisation of diabetes education in New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(5), pages 1328-1343, September.
    4. Chaix, Basile & Isacsson, Sven-Olof & Råstam, Lennart & Lindström, Martin & Merlo, Juan, 2007. "Income change at retirement, neighbourhood-based social support, and ischaemic heart disease: Results from the prospective cohort study "Men born in 1914"," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(4), pages 818-829, February.
    5. Rodrigo Javier Durán & Miguel Ángel Condorí, 2019. "Deprivation Index for Small Areas Based on Census Data in Argentina," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 141(1), pages 331-363, January.

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