Crime and Perceived Neighborhood Safety Across Racial-Ethnic Groups

Crime often increases safety concerns for residents, and safety concerns are generally associated with worse health. Despite that marginalized racial/ethnic groups are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to live in areas with more crime, prior studies have documented that these groups differentially view crime as a threat to safety. Furthermore, older adults are more likely to report safety concerns than younger adults, despite a lesser chance of being victimized. Using multiple waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study, a representative sample of US adults aged 51 years and older (n= 11,161, mean age of 66 years), we conducted weighted repeated cross-sectional linear regressions to examine whether the association between crime and perceived neighborhood safety varies by racial/ethnic group, by age, or by wave of data collection. Study results indicated that higher crime rates consistently predicted more safety concerns among non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics, and “Others,” but were inconsistently associated with safety concerns among non-Hispanic Blacks, adjusting for age, household wealth, and census tract-level concentrated disadvantage, population density, and racial/ethnic heterogeneity. Furthermore, among non-Hispanic Whites, greater crime predicted more safety concerns before, but not after including a measure of racial/ethnic heterogeneity. These patterns persisted across the full age span. Racial/ethnic differences in the crime-safety link could be explained by additional sociopolitical and environmental variables including diversity that vary over time. Follow-up analysis is needed to determine if the racial/ethnic differences in crime-safety links extend to health.

Active Aging through Volunteerism: A Longitudinal Assessment of Perceived Neighborhood Safety as a Predictor among Older Adults, 2008-2018

Volunteering can play an important role in active aging. The resource theory of volunteering posits that volunteerism depends on human, social, and cultural capital. Benefits of volunteering have been documented at the micro-, meso-, and macrolevels, positively affecting individual older people as well as their local communities and society at large. Taking a process-oriented theoretical approach, this study focused on the mesolevel factor of the environment with the purpose of determining the relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and volunteerism over the course of a decade and the extent to which this relationship differs by gender and race. Longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States of America between 2008 and 2018 were used ( N = 72,319 adults 60 years and older). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with robust standard errors were employed while controlling for a number of covariates. A third of the sample volunteered in the past year (33%). The probability of volunteering among older adults who rated their perceived neighborhood safety as excellent was greater compared with those who rated their perceived neighborhood safety as fair/poor after controlling for all other model covariates (ME: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.05). Among males rating their perceived neighborhood safety as excellent, the probability of volunteering was higher (ME: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.07). Among females, the probability of volunteering was higher among those who perceived their neighborhood safety to be excellent (ME: 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.05) or very good (ME: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.04). White respondents who rated their neighborhood safety as excellent (ME: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.07) or very good (ME: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.06) had a higher probability of volunteerism. Results were not significant among Black respondents and those who described their race as “other.” This study’s process-oriented theoretical approach indicates that initiatives aimed at improving neighborhood safety and older adults’ perceptions of neighborhood safety could increase social capital and lead older adults to engage in more volunteering, providing benefits at micro-, meso-, and macrolevels—to older individuals, their local communities, and society at large.

Perceptions of neighborhood environment on health in a Saudi Population in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

There is increasing evidence to suggest there is a relationship between a person's neighbourhood environment and determinants of health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes and mental health depression. However, to date, no research in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has explored this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess neighborhood perceived walkability, aesthetics, safety and connectedness, and their relationship with reported mental health status in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia among Saudi males and females over the age of 18 years. We used validated Arabic versions of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) short form and the (K10) scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis for all study variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate the likelihood of depression among the sample. A total of 493 residents in Riyadh-KSA, were included in the study. Most participants in the study responded negatively to statements on neighborhood walkability and aesthetics and did not perceive their neighborhood friendly in terms of providing adequate and accessible footpaths, natural reserves, attractive buildings or well-maintained walkways. Perceptions for walkability and aesthetics were lowest in comparison to safety, access to services and overall neighborhood satisfaction. Older individuals (>40 years) showed increased vulnerability to depression in univariate analysis (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.6241-0.9649) whilst being employed significantly decreased the likelihood of depression by 42%, (OR = 0.58; 95%CI: 0.386-0.875). Perceived neighborhood safety and connectedness were significantly associated with reported depression (OR = 0.930, 95%CI: 0.90-0.962). The results from this study demonstrate an association between neighborhood safety and connectedness with reported depressive symptoms among residents in Riyadh. Further research should focus on whether these observations are in fact causal. Key messages There is an association between perceived neighborhood safety and connectedness with reported depression. This study suggests that walkable built environments may decrease reports of psychological distress, whilst aesthetics and accessibility may improve both physical and mental health.

NEIGHBOURHOOD SAFETY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN SERBIA: MODERATING ROLE OF A CHILD'S GENDER AND PARENTS' AGE

The aim of study was to investigate the effects of parents' perceptions of neighborhood safety on outdoor physical activities of preschool children. This was investigated based on a moderating role of a child's gender and parents' age. The results showed that the association of parents’ perceptions of neighborhood safety on outdoor physical activities of children depended of the child’s sex and the parents’ age. Boys whose parents were younger and who positively assessed the neighborhood safety were more inclined to outdoor physical activities. Female children whose parents were below the average age the perceived neighborhood safety hindered frequent outdoor playing. The paper discusses practical implications of the obtained results and recommendations for future research.

Graffiti and perceived neighborhood safety: a neuroimaging study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to uncover the neural basis underlying the negative impact of graffiti on evaluations of neighborhood safety. Design/methodology/approach While in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner, participants rated the perceived safety of neighborhood scenes shown in photographic images. Some scenes were systematically altered to include graffiti, surveillance cameras or framed public art. Findings Consistent with previous research, the average safety rating for each scene including graffiti was significantly lower than for every other non-graffiti scene presented. The powerful salience of graffiti (as demonstrated by increased activation of the left fusiform gyrus) accompanied a decreased salience of other built environment scene elements (as demonstrated by reduced activation in the right parahippocampal gyrus). It appears as though the presence of graffiti causes the cognitive impact of other scene elements to fade. This redirection of cognitive focus may help to explain the dominant impact of graffiti on neighborhood safety evaluations. Practical implications Because of these basic perceptual tendencies, graffiti will necessarily dominate neighborhood safety evaluations. In any attempts to improve neighborhood safety evaluations, combating graffiti should be accorded a position of great importance, in keeping with these cognitive realities. Originality/value This is the first neuroimaging study of graffiti and perceived neighborhood safety.