Perceptions of social mix and ethnic diversity in changing neighbourhoods: evidence from Glasgow and regeneration implications

Abstract

Perceptions of neighbourhood change have been an important area of inquiry for several reasons, including for their effects upon place attachment, mobility intentions, and links to mental and physical health. In this article, we take a different perspective by assessing residents’ perceptions of neighbourhood compositional changes relating to social class and ethnicity and considering them as potential pathways to other social and psychosocial outcomes. In addition, we examine how these relationships are moderated in situations where policy is a prime cause of neighbourhood change through state-led regeneration. Across deprived areas, perceptions of social mix are positively associated with residential satisfaction, community cohesion, and feelings of empowerment and safety. Perceptions of ethnic diversity are positively associated with empowerment and safety, and negatively with area reputation. In regeneration areas, perceived social mix is positively associated with most outcomes but perceived ethnic mix holds negative associations; neither appears to impact external reputations.