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. 2009 Sep;86(5):745-59.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-009-9375-2. Epub 2009 Jun 19.

A multilevel analysis of social ties and social cohesion among Latinos and their neighborhoods: results from Chicago

Joanna Almeida  1 , Ichiro Kawachi, Beth E Molnar, S V Subramanian
Affiliations

A multilevel analysis of social ties and social cohesion among Latinos and their neighborhoods: results from Chicago

Joanna Almeida et al. J Urban Health. 2009 Sep.

Abstract

Research suggests that, among Latinos, there are health benefits associated with living in a neighborhood populated with coethnics. While social networks and social cohesion are the proposed explanation for the salubrious effect and are assumed to be characteristics of Latino immigrant enclaves, evidence for this is limited. We used multilevel regression to test the relative contribution of individual race/ethnicity and neighborhood concentration of Mexican Americans as predictors of social networks and social cohesion. After accounting for personal characteristics, we found a negative association between neighborhood concentration of Mexican Americans and social cohesion. Among Latinos, living in a neighborhood with increased coethnics was associated with increased social ties. Compared to non-Latino whites, Mexican Americans reported more social ties but lower social cohesion. Contrary to the assumption that Mexican immigrant enclaves beget social cohesion, we did not find this to be true in Chicago neighborhoods.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Differential effect of Mexican concentration on social ties by race/ethnic.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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