Hispanic Neighbourhood Satisfaction and Neighbourhood Social Capital in New and Established Immigrant Destinations

• In Event: 3254 - How Families, Neighborhoods, and Schools Shape Immigrant Lives

Abstract

As one of the more important recent population shifts in the United States, the migration of Hispanics into new immigrant metropolitan gateways has received significant scholarly attention. Much of this attention has been paid to understanding how Hispanic residential experiences and environmental characteristics differ between new and traditional destinations. This study contributes to this literature by using 2013 American Housing Survey data to examine differences in the levels and determinants of Hispanic neighbourhood satisfaction between new and established immigrant destinations. The study pays specific attention to the role of neighbourhood social capital and explores differences between native- and foreign-born Hispanics. Findings reveal that Hispanic neighbourhood satisfaction levels and the effects of social cohesion, social control and physical disorder on neighbourhood satisfaction are similar across destination type and nativity. However, additional factors moderated by nativity influence Hispanic neighbourhood satisfaction in established destinations. Whereas household socioeconomic status influences native-born Hispanics, a broad array of neighbourhood features such as the number of friends in the neighbourhood and community involvement effects foreign-born Hispanics.

Author

• Noli Brazil