Making Sense of Stressors in the Barrio: How Residents Appraise Social and Environmental Risk

• In Event: Sociology of Mental Health Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

This paper addresses the persistent silos among social stress researchers, psychologists, and medical and environmental sociologists regarding how people interpret social and environmental stressors in their neighborhoods. Drawing on two years of ethnographic fieldwork and 35 in-depth, photo-elicitation interviews with residents of Hermosa and Gage Park—two Latine barrios in Chicago—this study bridges disciplinary conversations by theorizing neighborhood stress appraisal. The research asks: (1) How do residents appraise the stressors associated with their neighborhoods? (2) To what extent do individuals rely on others when evaluating these stressors? Findings reveal that, despite exposure to distinct sources of stress, residents in both neighborhoods consistently interpret multiple, simultaneous ambient stressors through three main strategies: relative appraisal (comparing the severity or threat of stressors to one another), retrospective appraisal (interpreting current stressors in light of past experiences), and routine-based appraisal (assessing stressors by their frequency and impact on daily routines). The analysis further highlights the influence of family members, significant others, and digital tools like crime-tracking apps in shaping risk assessments. This paper shows that people living in Latine barrios are simultaneously exposed to diverse social and environmental stressors, and that their appraisals are rarely based solely on the material properties of a stressor. Instead, interpretations reflect ongoing negotiations between lived experience, personal and cultural values, shared interpretations among neighbors, and the immediate built environment—all influenced by individual and collective social position in the United States. Identifying how stress operates in Latine barrios is crucial for informing where community-based support and resource development are most needed.

Author

• Juanita Vivas Bastidas, Loyola University Chicago