Safety and Solidarity After the Boston Marathon Bombing: A Comparison of Three Diverse Boston Neighborhoods

This article investigates the effect of the Boston Marathon Bombing on city residents—how the tragic incident changed, or did not change, how Bostonians live in and feel about their community and neighborhoods. Unlike prior research that began weeks or months after a terrorist attack and used retros...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sociological forum (Randolph, N.J.) N.J.), 2015-03, Vol.30 (1), p.40-61
Main Authors: Brenner, Philip S., LeBlanc, Jessica L., Roman, Anthony M., Kwate, Naa Oyo A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
attitudes
Bombs
Boston Marathon Bombing
Boston, Massachusetts
Cities
Comparative analysis
Cultural diversity
Health
Mental Health
Neighborhoods
Neighbourhoods
Resident satisfaction
Safety
Satisfaction
security
social solidarity
Solidarity
Surveys
Terrorism
U.S.A
Well Being
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Summary:This article investigates the effect of the Boston Marathon Bombing on city residents—how the tragic incident changed, or did not change, how Bostonians live in and feel about their community and neighborhoods. Unlike prior research that began weeks or months after a terrorist attack and used retrospective reports, this study spans the focal event. An address-based sample of residents from three neighborhoods, distinct in racial and economic makeup was surveyed by mail using a three-contact protocol. About two-thirds of respondents answered a survey of neighborhood sentiments, and health and well-being in the days before the bombing (N = 581) and slightly over a third answered the survey after the bombing (N = 313). Assessments of safety, city and neighborhood satisfaction and solidarity, mental health, and other key measures vary greatly between the three neighborhoods, which are diverse in racial and economic composition, but also vary in proximity to the bomb site. Net of neighborhood differences, the bombing had a strong negative effect on neighborhood cohesion and reduced use of public transit. Strong interactions are also found between timing of survey completion (pre and post bombing) and neighborhood for assessments of neighborhood solidarity.
ISSN:0884-8971
1573-7861
DOI:10.1111/socf.12144