The protective role of social capital and cultural norms in Latino communities: A study of adolescent births

This study investigates how community characteristics can prefect adolescen ts from the negative effects of poverty. Using economic predictors, eight c ommunities with low or high birthrates for 15- to 17-year-old Latinas were identified. Quantitative data on birthrates, demographics, and the physical environment were obtained from government, hospital, and local sources, Qu alitative data on the physical environment and social processes in the comm unity were collected by interviews and observations in these eight communit ies. The low- and high-birthrate communities differed in their physical env ironment, the characteristics of the population. social capital, and cultur al norms. The zip codes with low adolescent birthrates had a higher percent age of residents of Latino descent, stronger social networks, and more ties to their countries of origin. The findings support a model of community bu ilding that focuses on strengthening informal social networks and supportin g protective cultural norms.