TY  - UNPB
TI  - Neighbourhood and wellbeing in the early years
N1  - Unpublished
Y1  - 2009///
UR  - http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.534877
M1  - Doctoral
N2  - Abstract
The aim of this thesis is to investigate whether compositional and contextual factors
relating to neighbourhoods in which children live can explain differences in their
wellbeing, over and above factors at the individual and family level. Data collected on
young children, sampled from advantaged, disadvantaged and ethnic minority electoral
wards within the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) were used to explore the
research objectives. 2001 census small area statistics were uniquely utilised to further
characterise MCS wards. Multi-level statistical modelling techniques were employed to
analyse these data.
Findings suggest that individual and family level factors account for most of the
differences in cognitive, behavioural and physical wellbeing. Wards in disadvantaged
and ethnic minority areas were shown to be negatively associated with children's
readiness to start school and their vocabulary abilities. Behavioural difficulties and the
body mass index (BMI) of children were also associated with these wards.
Alongside these factors, several subjective measures of the local area were associated
with children's wellbeing. Poor local safety and problems with litter were negatively
associated with school readiness and vocabulary skills respectively. Problems with
noise, pollution, lack of places to play and poor access to shops were associated with
children having behavioural difficulties. Problems with litter in the vicinity were also
related to children having a higher BMI.
Furthermore, some 2001 census small area statistics, characterising the demographic
composition of each ward were also associated with child wellbeing. Wards with high
numbers of children living in them were associated with poor school readiness scores
and areas with high numbers of cohabiting childless couples were associated with
children having lower vocabulary scores. Wards with high levels of female lone parents
who were employed and married couples with children were associated with fewer child
difficulties. None of these census factors were associated with BMI.
PB  - Institute of Education, University of London
A1  - Cullis, Andrew
EP  - 251
ID  - discovery10007364
AV  - restricted
ER  -