Sources of Personal Neighbor Networks: Social Integration, Need, or Time?

In response to Wirth's (1938) image of city dwellers as isolated individuals lacking strong ties to others, urban sociologists and network analysts have closely examined personal networks. Because neighbors are vital components of such networks, we examine three theoretical perspectives offered...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social forces 1992-06, Vol.70 (4), p.1077-1100
Main Authors: Campbell, Karen E., Lee, Barrett A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Analysis
Children
Community structure
Friendship
Gender roles
Integration
Men
Neighborhoods
Neighbors
Neighbouring relationships
Social Integration
Social networks
Sociodemographic Factors
Socioeconomic Status
Sociology (networks)
Suicide
Tennessee
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In response to Wirth's (1938) image of city dwellers as isolated individuals lacking strong ties to others, urban sociologists and network analysts have closely examined personal networks. Because neighbors are vital components of such networks, we examine three theoretical perspectives offered to explain the links between statuses and neighbor networks: social integration, need, and available time. Survey evidence from 690 adults in 81 Nashville, Tennessee neighborhoods best supports a social integration interpretation — those in statuses well integrated into society in general (female, middle-aged, married, and high-SES respondents) have larger networks within their neighborhoods. Need may be the inverse of integration, for low-SES persons, though maintaining smaller networks, have more frequent and intense contact with their neighbors.
ISSN:0037-7732
1534-7605
DOI:10.1093/sf/70.4.1077