Variations in neighborhood perceptions by race and legal status

Background: Cities are home to racially and ethnically diverse populations of immigrants. Research has demonstrated that neighborhood effects vary by race. There is a need to understand if and how some aspects of neighborhoods... [ view full abstract ]

Background: Cities are home to racially and ethnically diverse populations of immigrants. Research has demonstrated that neighborhood effects vary by race. There is a need to understand if and how some aspects of neighborhoods may be more salient for groups related to race as well as immigration. Specifically, legal status may intersect with race to influence neighborhood effects and their ultimate impact on health.

Objectives: This study examines three psychosocial processes: social cohesion, social ties, and neighborhood satisfaction and examines their relationship with race and legal status.

Methods: Data come from Wave I of the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey (N=3,460). Using ordinal logistic regression models, we tested associations between social cohesion, social ties, and positive feelings scores and race, legal status, and race stratified by legal status, each controlling for socioeconomic status

Results: We found race to be a significant predictor for positive perceptions and social ties. When stratified by legal status, the association remained only for US citizens. For documented non-citizens and undocumented residents there is no significant association between race and the three neighborhood perceptions. Latino and Asian race/ethnicity is associated with social cohesion for undocumented residents.

Implications: Our analyses suggest that it is important to consider the intersection of individuals’ identities. The mechanisms that contribute to place based differences as related to processes are not determined individually, but largely shaped by societal forces.