Testing Predictors of Mutual Efficacy

Michael C. Gearhart

Social Science Quarterly, 2019, vol. 100, issue 6, 2445-2457

Abstract: Objectives Collective efficacy has developed concurrently in both sociology and psychology. In sociology, collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. In psychology, collective efficacy is a construct that focuses on a group's belief in its ability to achieve shared goals. Mutual efficacy reflects group members' beliefs that collective action can be successful at achieving group goals. Mutual efficacy was developed as a bridge between the sociological and psychological conceptualizations of collective efficacy. Prior research supports mutual efficacy as a mediator of the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control. However, little is known about the individual and neighborhood‐level characteristics that predict mutual efficacy. Methods This study tests predictors of mutual efficacy using regression while accounting for clustering at the neighborhood level through the use of Huber–White sandwich estimators. Results Findings show that multiple factors influence mutual efficacy including social cohesion, resident mobility, income, and education. Conclusion Findings highlight the importance of building mutual efficacy through facilitating interactions among neighbors, increasing access to education, and fostering economic stability.

Date: 2019
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