Skip to main content
Log in

Neighbourhood Effects Influencing Early Childhood Development: Conceptual Model and Trial Measurement Methodologies from the Kids in Communities Study

  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Socio-environmental factors, including the neighbourhoods in which children live and grow, are key determinants of children’s developmental outcomes. Thus, it is important to examine and consider the relationships between these factors and the multiple contexts that influence children. Drawing on a broad disciplinary range of existing research, we aimed to develop a conceptual model of neighbourhood effects influencing early childhood development. The neighbourhood effects literature was reviewed with a specific focus on existing models and frameworks. This review was then further expanded through consultation with our cross-disciplinary research collaboration (Kids in Communities Study Collaboration). From this a theoretical model specific to early childhood development was developed. The hypothesised model comprised five interconnected domains: physical, social, service, socio-economic, and governance. A small trial of indicator measurement was conducted and findings were used to make a series of recommendations regarding measures or indicators which might provide useful and effective for neighbourhood effects research. The proposed model provides a useful and novel conceptual framework for classifying neighbourhood effects research. By synthesising disparate but related areas of research, the resultant five domains provide a useful approach to understanding and measuring child development in the context of community and environment, therefore advancing knowledge in this area. Expanding the current neighbourhood effects paradigm to accommodate broader constructs appears critical in considering the multiple environments that may act as key determinants of children’s wellbeing and psychosocial outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson, A. B. (1998). Social exclusion, poverty and unemployment. In A. B. Atkinson & J. Hills (Eds.), Exclusion, employment and opportunity. Case paper 4. Centre for the analysis of social exclusion (pp. 1–20). London: London School of Economics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2006). Information paper: An introduction to socio-economic indexes for areas (SEIFA). Canberra: Australia Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barry, F. D. (1994). A neighborhood based approach: What is it? In G. B. Melton & F. D. Barry (Eds.), Protecting children from abuse and neglect: Foundations for a new national strategy. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett, L. (1993). Rethinking neighbourhoods, neighbourhood research, and neighbourhood policy: Lessons from uptown. Journal of Urban Affair, 15, 245–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, J. (2003). How has the notion of social exclusion developed in the European discourse? Plenary address to the 2003 Australian social policy conference. Social Policy Research Centre: University of New South Wales.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32, 513–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1986). Ecology of the family as a context for human development: Research perspectives. Developmental Psychology, 22, 723–742.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). Ecological systems theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Six theories of child development: Revised formulations and current issues (pp. 187–249). London, England: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. International Encyclopedia of Education (2nd ed., Vol. 3, pp. 1643–1647). Oxford: Elseview.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (2004). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. USA: Sage Publications Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks-Gunn, J., Duncan, G. L., & Britto, P. (1999). Are socio-economic gradients for children similar to those for adults? Achievement and health of children in the United States. In D. Keating & C. Hertzman (Eds.), Developmental health and the wealth of nations: Social, biological and educational dynamics. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks-Gunn, J., Duncan, G. J., Klebanov, P. K., & Sealand, N. (1993). Do neighborhoods influence child and adolescent development? American Journal of Sociology, 99(2), 353–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burchardt, T. (2000). Social exclusion: Concepts and evidence. In D. Gordon & P. Townsend (Eds.), Breadline Europe. The measurement of poverty. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byron, I. (2010). Place-based approaches to addressing disadvantage: Linking science and policy. Family Matters, 84, 20–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Community Child Health (2011). Place-based approaches to supporting children and families. Policy Brief No. 23.

  • Centre for Community Child Health. (2012). Place-based initiatives transforming communities: Proceedings from the place-based approaches roundtable. Melbourne: Centre for Community Child Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Community Child Health, & Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. (2009). A snapshot of early childhood development in Australia: AEDI National report 2009. Canberra: Australian Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Community Child Health, & Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. (2012). A snapshot of early childhood development in Australia: AEDI National report 2012. Canberra: Australian Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, P. (2003). Place, space and knowledge: Children in the village and the city. In P. Christensen & M. O’Brien (Eds.), Children in the City: Home, neighbourhood and community. London: Routledge/Falmer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94, S95–S120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S., & Hoffer, T. B. (1987). Public and private schools: The impact of communities. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Human Services. (2006). Neighbourhood renewal: Participation and partnership framework 2005–2008. Victoria: Office of Housing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckersley, R. (2004). Separate selves, tribal ties, and other stories. Family Matters, 68(Winter), 36–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, B. (2006). Views of the village: Parents’ perceptions of their neighbourhoods. Family Matters, 74, 26–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellen, I., & Turner, M. (1997). Does neighbourhood matter? Assessing recent evidence. Housing Policy Debate, 8, 833–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feinstein, L., Duckworth, K., & Sabates, R. (Eds.). (2008). Education and the family: Passing success across the generations. London, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galster, G. C. (2012). The mechanism(s) of neighbourhood effects: Theory, evidence and policy implications. In M. Van Ham, D. Manley, N. Bailey, L. Simpson, & D. Maclennan (Eds.), Neighbourhood effects research: New perspectives. Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J. (1995). Raising children in a socially toxic environment. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldfeld, S., Mathews, T., Brinkman, S., Woolcock, G., Myers, J., Kershaw, P., et al. (2010). The Kids in Communities Study: Measuring community level factors influencing children’s development. Report for VicHealth. Melbourne: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hertzman, C. (2010). Framework for the social determinants of early child development. In R. E. Tremblay, R. G. Barr, R. D. Peters, & M. Boivin (Eds.), Encyclopedia on early childhood development. Montreal, Quebec: Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs, J. (1961). The death and life of great American cities. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janus, M., & Offord, D. (2007). Development and psychometric properties of the early development instrument (EDI): A measure of children’s school readiness. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 39(1), 1–22. doi:10.1037/cjbs2007001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jencks, C., & Mayer, S. (1990). The social consequences of growing up in a poor neighbourhood. In L. E. Lynn Jr & M. G. H. McGeary (Eds.), Inner-city poverty in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohen, D. E., Leventhal, T., Dahinten, V. S., & McIntosh, C. N. (2008). Neighborhood disadvantage: Pathways of effects for young children. Child Development, 79(1), 156–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, T., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2000). The neighborhoods they live in: The effects of neighborhood residence on child and adolescent outcomes. Psychological Bulletin, 126(2), 309–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, T., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2003). Children and youth in neighbourhood contexts. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 12(1), 27–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, T., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (2008). Neighborhood residence and youth development: Empirical findings and theoretical models. The Prevention Researcher, 15(2), 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luthar, S. (2003). The culture of affluence: Psychological costs of material wealth. Child Development, 74(6), 1581–1593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, D., & Susser, E. (2006). The eco- in eco-epidemiology. International Journal of Epidemiology, 35(6), 1379–1383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, T. (2005). Towards improved support for families of young children: The role of communities. 9th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, Centre for Community Child Health.

  • Muhajarine, N., Vu, L., & Labonte, R. (2006). Social contexts and children’s health outcomes: Researching across the boundaries. Critical Public Health, 16(3), 205–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Toole, K. (2003). Exploring community governance in Victorian Local Government. 51st annual conference of the Australasian Political Studies Association, Hobart, University of Tasmania.

  • Painter, J., & Philo, C. (1995). Spaces of citizenship: An introduction. Political Geography, 14(2), 107–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preston-Shoot, M., & Wigley, V. (2005). Mapping the needs of children in need. British Journal of Social Work, 35, 255–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prior, M. (2005). Neighbourhood influences on children. In S. Richardson & M. Prior (Eds.), No time to lose: The wellbeing of Australia’s children. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, R. J., Morenoff, J. D., & Gannon-Rowley, T. (2002). Assessing “neighborhood effects”: Social processes and new directions in research. Annual Review of Sociology, 28, 443–478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shonkoff, J. P., & Boyce, W. T. (2009). Neuroscience, molecular biology, and the childhood roots of health disparities: Building a new framework for health promotion and disease prevention. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(21), 2252–2259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, J., & Kovacs, K. (2003). Accessibility issues in child abuse prevention services. Child Abuse Prevention Issues, no. 18, Spring 2003.  Melbourne: National Child Protection Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies.

  • Susser, M., & Susser, E. (1996a). Choosing a future for epidemiology: I. Eras and paradigms. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 668–673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Susser, M., & Susser, E. (1996b). Choosing a future for epidemiology: II. From black box to Chinese boxes and eco-epidemiology. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 674–677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swisher, R. (2008). Neighborhoods and youth: How neighborhood demographics and social processes affect youth outcomes. The Prevention Researcher, 15(2), 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wandersman, A., & Nation, M. (1998). Urban neighbourhoods and mental health: Psychological contributions to understanding toxicity, resilience, and interventions. American Psychologist, 53, 647–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks to previous KICS members Paul Kershaw and John Wiseman for their contribution, and to Corinne opt H’oong for her initial input. This work has been funded by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (Australian Research Council/National Health and Medical Research Council Collaborative network), the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, and the Australian Government. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sharon Goldfeld.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Goldfeld, S., Woolcock, G., Katz, I. et al. Neighbourhood Effects Influencing Early Childhood Development: Conceptual Model and Trial Measurement Methodologies from the Kids in Communities Study. Soc Indic Res 120, 197–212 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0578-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-014-0578-x

Keywords

Navigation