Stigmatized Neighborhoods, Social Bonding, and Health

Abstract

The relationship between living in impoverished neighborhoods and poor health is well established, but impacts of neighborhood stigma on health are not well understood. Drawing on long-term research with Latino immigrants, we examine how neighborhood stigma and social bonding affect health in Phoenix, Arizona. During preliminary ethnographic analysis, we developed a novel neighborhood stigma scale. In survey research, we examined effects of neighborhood stigma and social bonding on self-reported physical and mental health. Regression models show that perceived neighborhood stigma and low social bonding are associated with poorer physical and mental health, controlling for other factors.

Navigating identity, territorial stigma, and HIV care services in Vancouver, Canada: A qualitative study

“…For example, integrating social interventions into HIV care settings for the purposes of promoting solidarity between various groups of PLHIV, including those whose identities are shaped by place, will likely prove important in accomplishing this goal and achieving other benefits. Notably, social bonding and cohesion can improve the impacts of territorial stigma on individuals’ health (Wutich et al, 2014). To this end, territorial stigma deserves further attention in the siting and design of new HIV-related care services and implementation of current programs to ensure accessibility and engagement, particularly when facilities are sited outside of, but intended to serve PLHIV from, ‘service-dependent’ neighbourhoods.…”

“…However, places, people, and experiences are co-constructed and produce an intricate agglomeration, in which each element is actively shaped and reshaped by the others. For stigmatized populations, such as people living with HIV (PLHIV) and people who use drugs (PWUD), experiences of place can influence their access to health care services (Chesney & Smith, 1999; Nations & Monte, 1996), and contribute to adverse health outcomes (Keene & Padilla, 2010, 2014; Latkin, German, Vlahov, & Galea, 2013; Wutich, Ruth, Brewis, & Boone, 2014). …”

“…Such territorial stigmatization is often reinforced by popular media discourses (Liu & Blomley, 2013; Wutich et al, 2014) and functions to affirm the existing stigmas experienced by these populations due to socio-structural inequities (e.g. classism, racism).…”

“…classism, racism). The resulting ‘blemish of place’ (Wacquant, 2007) denigrates neighbourhood occupants who often embody stigmatizing discourses, disrupting their sense of identity and social interactions, while also constraining their access to other neighbourhoods (Keene & Padilla, 2014; Author et al, 2015; Wutich et al, 2014). As such, territorial stigmatization exacerbates inequality for these populations, often leading to considerable consequences for their well-being.…”

“…However, the concept of territorial stigma has more recently been employed to advance understandings of how these processes further vilify stigmatized populations as they move – or attempt to move – from stigmatized places or neighbourhoods into other areas (Keene & Padilla, 2014; McCormick, Joseph, & Chaskin, 2012; Author et al, 2015; Rhodes, 2012; Thompson et al, 2007; Wacquant, 2007; Wutich et al, 2014). While rooted in geographic areas, territorial stigma is mobile and follows people as they move from stigmatized areas to other spaces, whether other neighbourhoods (Author et al, 2015) or entirely new cities (Keene & Padilla, 2014), and engage in other spaces.…”