centre for the built environment and health, school of population health parenthood and social...

Centre for the Built Environment and Health, School of Population Health

Parenthood and social capital: creating a village in modern suburbia

Cecily Strange PhD candidate

Supervisors:

Associate Professor Lisa Wood ,UWA

Professor Colleen Fisher, UWA

Professor Peter Howat, Curtin University

The University of Western Australia

Overview of presentation

Background – parenthood in the 21st C Key concepts - Social capital and community connectedness Families with 0-5 year olds This study

• Design• Findings to date• Implications for policy and practice


Social trends impacting on parenting in Australia

Trends Migration ABS 2011 census

• One in four Australians born overseas– (30% in WA)

Family structure and employment Starting a family often coincides with moving

to the urban sprawl

Possible effects: Traditional family and social support eroded Changes in social connectedness (Leigh, 2010)

Perth metropolitan region


Why we need a closer look

What we know One in four parents report poor social support (LSAC report 2008)

One in five parents report poor mental health (ABS Social Survey reported in A picture of Australia’s Children 2009)

Newer residential areas have difficulties in establishing community groups for families (Sneddon and Haynes, 2003 Vic)

Determinants of health – 5 key (Keleher & MacDougall 2009)

• Socio-economic gradient

• Early child development

• Poverty, deprivation and social exclusion

• Health literacy

• Gender


In the neighbourhood Neighbours can be a valuable

source of social support

by Jacinta Francis, Ph.D.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-neighborhood/

mAmamiaWhere’s my *%&$village

By Mia Freedmanhttp://www.mamamia.com.au

Bad mothers clubThey say it takes a village to raise a child. So where the hell is everyone when you need them?

http://realmothersclub.com.au

It is topical in social media

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-neighborhood/201210/virtual-vs-real-world-relationships



http://www.mamamia.com.au/



http://realmothersclub.com.au/

http://realmothersclub.com.au/

http://www.psychologytoday.com/

http://www.buggybuddys.com.au/


Key concepts

Social capital Putnam’s definition: ‘refers to features of social organisation such as

networks, norms, and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit’ (1995)

Harpham et al. define social capital to be 'the degree of connectedness and the quality and quantity of social relations in a given population‘ (2002)

Health Social relationships and social capital are linked to mental and physical

health. Refs 1).Kawachi 1999 Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Layton JB. 2010)


Social capital for families with 0-5 year olds

ParticipationStructural components

ParticipationStructural components

Structural social capital: ‘what you do’Structural social capital: ‘what you do’

Social capital‘degree of connectedness and the quality and quantity of

social relations in a given population’ (Ref Harpham et al 2002)

Social capital‘degree of connectedness and the quality and quantity of

social relations in a given population’ (Ref Harpham et al 2002)

Social cohesionCognitive components

Social cohesionCognitive components

Cognitive social capital: ‘what you feel’Cognitive social capital: ‘what you feel’

ReciprocityReciprocity Social supportSocial support

Shared values and trust

Shared values and trust

Social action and normsSocial action and norms

Participation in groups and networks in the community



The broader study

Investigation of how families with children 0-5 years build social capital, and feel connected and supported within communities: services and community groups in newer residential areas Mixed methods design

• Qualitative - In-depth interviews, focus groups • Quantitative – survey

Recruitment initially through RESIDE study (C_BEH, UWA)

Newer residential areas across three LGAs Data collection

• Qualitative – (n = 46) participants from three large LGAs – completed

• Quantitative survey – in progress


Qualitative design and methods

Sampling purposeful for maximum variation (Creswell, 2007)

In-depth interviews with 12 mothers and 7 community representatives

Focus groups with 3 mothers’ groups and 3 playgroups

Participants – mothers (n=39) All primary caregivers 21-38 years with 1 to 3 children under 5 years of age Paid employment from 0 to 34 hours per week 13 mothers from overseas – 11 moved to Australia as adults and 2 as

children. 2 overseas mothers had also moved interstate Majority home owners

7 community representatives working in the LGAs


Data collection and analysis

Data collection Interviews and focus groups were undertaken in homes, community centres

or local government settings Recorded and transcribed verbatim –NVivo9 Rigor through an audit trail - field notes and familiarity with the built

environment and landscape

Analysis Analysis and collection occurred concurrently Thematic analysis as described by Creswell (2007)

• Coding concepts into categories and sub-categories to identify themes• Themes reviewed and contrasted with existing literature


Increase need/desire to connect to the neighbourhood

Increased vested interest in neighbourhood

-influenced by previous connection, past

experiences, norms and future expectations

Structural social capital: ‘what you do’

Parenthood

Increased need for social support Influenced

by transition to parent and scope of social

support and networks

Cognitive social capital: ‘what you feel’

Reciprocity

Social support

Trust and shared values

Social action and norms

Participation in groups and networks

Creating a village

Enablers and barriers within newer residential areas

Community groups and services as facilitators


Parenthood brings an increased need/desire to connect to one’s neighbourhood

‘Yes, I think it’s (to be connected to the

local community) more important now

that I’m a parent. Like I’ve moved around

the world...I’ve been travelling like my entire

life... I hope to stay here and I hope that

Tom goes to school down the road and we

are always going to be around these

people...it is more than likely that the people

in my mother’s group...I will continue to see

them while dropping Tom off to school...for

what...the next 12 years. So, I think now

more than ever, the responsibility is on me to

forge friendships and get involved...because

we want stay here for a while, and I have a

vested interest not only in my property

but also...in the value of my life and the

surroundings...’

Connectedness


Vested interest in the neighbourhood, influenced by norms past

experiences future

expectations

‘Well for me it’s not just living in an area...

you’ve got to actually be part of it. Rather

than driving 10 kms to the big shopping

centre...but supporting the local shops…

getting to know your neighbours and doing

things in the area...going out for walks and

seeing them...and spending time here... So,

to me the only way to get more things

happening there is to support the things

that are happening there already...’

Vested interest


Need for social support is

influenced by transition to

parenthood scope of social

support and networks available.

‘I had never had much interaction with babies…and I don’t really know anybody that had babies that I could learn from. So, I thought, well, I need that kind of support structure so I could figure out how to do this whole motherhood thing.’ (reason for joining a local mothers’ group)

Social support and networks


Mothers’ groups and playgroups facilitate community connectedness building social and

supportive networks sharing and normalising

parenthood experiences

However, parents need to be resourceful.

It means that I have a family here. The mother’s group became my family...my support network…and without them I probably would not cope at all.’ (mother)

‘The issues they [parents] have are quite common…but if you are in isolation you make it a major issue…whereas it may be normal developmental change or something like that. And so it alleviates a lot of that stress that parents have...talking about it with somebody else [another parent].’(Child Health Nurse)

Community groups


opportunities to meet others through the ‘newness of all’

lag of amenities and services that restrict ‘brushing elbows’ with others

‘You can really see the difference…

before we had the shops and the

pub… then and after... like now…

come 5 o’clock people are walking

around…like families are walking down

to the pub or they are walking down to

the park after getting an ice-cream at

the shop…people are out and about …

instead of driving to the grocery store

and not ever going back outside again.

So…you see kids on bikes… there is

that community atmosphere that I think

the developers were trying to sell…

I guess it happened what…6 years

later…but they’ve achieved that

community focus.’

Newer residential areas


‘I wouldn’t have met any of them if it wasn’t for mother’s group or playgroup… even though we all live in the play area.’

‘I think if you actually make an effort to join groups and get involved you feel a lot more connected...yeh definitely.’

Social capital: Participation




Shared values and trustShared values and trust





Social capital: Social action








‘When they were putting in the shops and the pub there were quite a few concerns...they did have a community meeting about that...so we trotted along to that. That was just ...going to a ‘neighbourhood meeting’ kind of thing. And it was actually really good...and it was frustrating because we all thought it was a fantastic idea...for the community… and the people who lived close were against. But it was still good to be part of that. I guess it was a common purpose… It was something for the future and something that we believed in.’


Social capital: Reciprocity and social support








‘When I moved into the area...like my next door neighbour has a dog...and I said ‘Hi, I’m your neighbour...can I walk your dog?’ She had cancer at the time. And just from doing that for them…we’ve become really good friends...and I’m really lucky because my husband is away all the time...like the other week I was really sick...and I put a post on the mothers’ group...someone helped me out with my baby...and my neighbour drove me to hospital...and you know… if I hadn’t of done that...I wouldn’t have had anyone. Like I’ve got these girls and I’ve got good neighbours...you know…they will look out for me.’


Social capital: Shared values and trust








‘If you are at the park…other people will watch out for your kids. You know…if they [child] are climbing up somewhere and you are dealing with your other child…they’ll [other parents] go stand beside them even if you don’t know who the kid or person is. You know…just to make sure they are OK. Often I have experienced that. So, that’s a good thing. You feel that there is support there.’


Increase need/desire to connect to the neighbourhood

Increased vested interest in neighbourhood

-influenced by previous connection, past

experiences, norms and future expectations

Structural social capital: ‘what you do’

Parenthood

Increased need for social support Influenced

by transition to parent and scope of social

support and networks

Cognitive social capital: ‘what you feel’

Reciprocity

Social support

Trust and shared values

Social action and norms

Participation in groups and networks

Creating a village

Enablers and barriers within newer residential areas

Community groups and services as facilitators


And for Dads…

He (husband) has only met other Dads in the neighbourhood through my mothers’ group and playgroup.

‘His friends didn’t have any kids...so for him I think that was good. (To meet other Dads through the playgroup?) Yeh...other Dads and not just his mates and family. Yeh…I think having that was good for him.’


It takes time…

Friendships‘Things take time...I mean…to establish a good circle of friends and...it just takes years.’

Alone Relocation Groups not available

Community connectedness‘It reminds me a lot...when I was growing up...our community was quite tight...like that...and it is more now…like how I grew up...and that is nice.’ (three and half years after moving into a newer area which has

had a recent development of a shopping hub)


Implications for policy and practice

What we know Parenthood is a time of vulnerability and transition Changing demographics mean families are potentially more isolated Parents desire/need to connect to their local communities

What to do Support parents and provide a variety of opportunities for parents to meet

with others in their local community Reduce lag of community hubs in newer residential areas A variety of strategies (Moore, 2006)

• across sectors• collaborative• Sustainable


Next phase of the study - quantitative

Pilot survey underway

Main survey 2013

Variables of interest include:• parent perceptions of social support and community

connectedness, length of residence and relocation, and the role of community groups


I guess ultimately…I don’t want to be living amongst strangers...I want to have friends in the area...I want to walk out my

door and say hello.

Thank youContact: [email protected]

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