EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The Neighbourhood Matters

The Neighbourhood Matters

Introduction

With the aid of results from the "Maastricht Quality of Life Study", this report describes how low socio-economic status and limited social capital are related to differences in quality of life and intellectual health among the Maastricht neighbourhoods.

Description

Is there a relationship between the low socio-economic status (SES) and limited social capital of a neighbourhood on the one hand, and differences in the quality of life and health in the neighbourhood on the other? The report indicates that there is more social capital in neighbourhoods with a higher SES.

Children (11-year olds) who lived in neighbourhoods with a higher SES or with more social capital, appeared to feel more healthy. Moreover, in neighbourhoods where residents would intervene if something happened, for instance to separate fighting children, the children were intellectually more healthy and also better-behaved. These links were not found in 13/14-year olds. However, subgroups of 13/14–year-old adolescents with highly educated parents, adolescents who lived in neighbourhoods where there was frequent house moving, were found to be at a disadvantage if they lived in a more impoverished neighbourhood.
Adults also appeared to have a lower quality of life if they lived in impoverished neighbourhoods and this could be explained by their opinions about sociability and social contacts in the neighbourhood. Adults also scored better for quality of life if they lived in neighbourhoods that had more social capital.

Conclusions

The report shows that residents in neighbourhoods with more social capital feel better. Moreover, there are indications that more social capital in poorer neighbourhoods can diminish the negative effects of neighbourhood poverty on well-being.

One recommendation is to concentrate on the retention of social capital in the neighbourhoods or even to provide facilities to increase social capital. Several items will have to be further elaborated in consultation with policymakers.

Contact info

University of Maastricht
Ms M. Drukker, tel. +31 43 3299782

Publication date

18/03/2005

Researcher

Drukker, M., F. Feron, J. van Os

Links

University of Maastricht

De buurt doet ertoe (PDF, Dut, 730 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Keywords

Citizens' participation