Household instability in low-income neighborhoods

Children growing up in economically impoverished neighborhoods may often experience disruption and instability regarding their living arrangements. The scope and extent of the instability is unclear however, because community-based longitudinal data on youths from such neighborhoods are rare. Consequently, the influence of instability on adolescent outcomes is unclear.

We report residential moves and changes in parental figures using data from the Mobile Youth Survey (MYS) from 2005-2009 (N = 679) and examine outcomes associated with these changes. The MYS is a longitudinal study of poverty and adolescent risk that has been conducted annually since 1998 in the most impoverished neighborhoods in the Mobile, AL metropolitan area. The survey is comprised of 406 items concerning a variety of psychosocial measures and risk-related behaviors.

Approximately 20% of the respondents reŽport a change in mother figure each year, and 42% report at least one change over the 5-year period. Father figure changes are more prevalent (40% each year and 67% over 5 years). Residential moves are also common (13%/year and 44%/5-year). Repeated measures analyses, using a lagged deŽpendŽent variable (t – 1) and controlling for the dependent variable at time t (as well as for age, gender, and neighborhood), shows inŽstability predicts such attitudes and risk behaviors as hopelessness and weapons carrying (ps < .01).

Changes in living arrangements are not uncommon and can affect adolescents, perhaps especially those growing up in low-income neighborhoods. Researchers and practitioners should recognize and address issues regarding family stability and its influence on children's development.