The social process linking neighborhood social fragmentation and individual psychological distress

R. Amanda Cooper, Chris Segrin, Jian Jiao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The current study assessed the social process linking neighborhood social fragmentation with individual psychological distress. Social fragmentation was operationalized as a perception of limited social cohesion within a neighborhood. Data were collected from two waves in the United Kingdom (T1 N = 705; T2 N = 534). Participants completed an online survey with measures of perceived social cohesion, social support, perceived social isolation at Time 1 and completed a follow up survey six months later with measures of psychological distress. Structural equation modeling was used to test a serial mediation model. The results support the hypothesis that social support and isolation mediate the relationship between limited social cohesion (i.e., social fragmentation) and psychological distress. Living in neighborhoods marked by social fragmentation is predictive of decreased social support that in turn predicts greater perceptions of social isolation, and ultimately predicts high psychological distress.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)209-226
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2025

Keywords

  • Neighborhood social fragmentation
  • depression
  • negative emotion
  • psychological distress
  • social cohesion
  • social isolation
  • social support
  • stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Communication
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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