New ISOTIS paper: Individual, family and neighbourhood factors related to life satisfaction and perceived discrimination among low-income, non-immigrant mothers in seven European countries

ISOTIS researchers Katharina Ereky-Stevens, Edward Melhuish, Julian Gardiner, Jacqueline Barnes & ISOTIS WP2 team publish paper Individual, family and neighbourhood factors related to life satisfaction and perceived discrimination among low-income, non-immigrant mothers in seven European countries in the Journal of Family Studies.

The present study investigated potential links between indicators of social exclusion and perceived maternal discrimination and maternal life satisfaction amongst low-income, non-immigrant mothers of young children in seven European countries. The focus was on families who had been in their respective societies for several generations, and the aim was to investigate associations between non-ethnically motivated discrimination and life satisfaction associated with socio-economic disadvantage.

This study showed that lack of resources in multiple dimensions of social exclusion was linked to less satisfaction with life and higher perceived discrimination. In line with previous research (Diener & Biswas-Diener, Citation2002; Helliwell, Citation2001), this study indicates that objective life condition variables associated with social exclusion (material deprivation, unemployment, poor neighbourhood quality) are important in contributing to well-being, but that other more relational aspects also have to be considered when addressing causes and consequences of poverty. These findings point towards the importance of social support and neighbourhood characteristics when considering policies and interventions that aim to increase social inclusion and well-being for families who face barriers to participation in society.