MACROSOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF SOCIAL INTEGRATION - SOCIAL-CLASS AND AREA EFFECT

Theory and research on social support have paid little attention to th e existence of important macrosocial variables determining level and c ontent of social relationships. This study examines variations in soci al integration as a function of social class and residential area char acteristics. Results for 234 subjects living in high and low risk neig hbourhoods indicated that differences between higher and lower social class groups follow different patterns in different residential areas. Also, same social class position appeared to have different significa nce as a function of residential area characteristics. The levels of t hree social integration measures-community integration and satisfactio n, community association and participation, and contribution in commun ity organizations-were significantly higher for lower class in low ris k neighbourhoods than in high risk ones. However, significant differen ces were found in only one measure for higher social class groups, wit h higher levels of community association and participation in high ris k neighbourhoods than in low risk ones. The discussion examines a 'soc ial impoverishment' hypothesis for high risk environments, and propose s possible protective factors for higher status residents. Relations b etween formal and informal sources of support, and implications for so cial intervention strategies are also considered.