The Impact of Residential Mobility on Social Participation in Neighbourhoods: Exploring the Moderating Role of Family Households

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing concern within the council of the municipality of Amsterdam that the migration of families in Amsterdam may lead to decreased social engagement. Families are often at home and present in the city, ensuring social cohesion and neighbourhood involvement. This thesis aims to reveal the impact of families on the city through the intricate interplay between residential mobility, the presence of family households, and social engagement. Whereby it sought to shed light on the factors that shape social engagement and provide valuable insights for urban planning and community development efforts. By employing four multiple regression models which suggest that high residential mobility affects the degree of social engagement in neighbourhoods in Amsterdam. Whereby the presence of families will significantly impact this mechanism. Family households still play a vital role in community building. The part of family households in neighbourhoods emerged as a significant aspect of the statistical results. Families have long been recognised as building blocks of communities, fostering a sense of community, social cohesion, and connectedness. Whereby this thesis will not disprove these claims. By recognising the complexities of these dynamics, this study could offer additional insight into sociology and social geography. After all, the findings underscore the significance of promoting stability, social connections, and a sense of belonging in neighbourhoods, particularly in high residential mobility.