Health, Crime and Social Connectedness

• In Event: Roundtable: Empirical Tests of Community-Level Theories of Crime

Abstract

The connection between health disparities, personal well-being, crime, fear for personal safety, and neighborhood characteristics is intertwined. The social and environmental conditions of neighborhoods have been connected to violence and a lack of access to safe places to be active outdoors, leading to social disconnectedness and poor health outcomes. Strong social connections can promote protective factors in neighborhoods, whereas highly engaged communities have been found to be more likely to work collectively for the common good, and to maintain informal social controls. In neighborhoods where there is a high sense of connectivity and trust, research has found connections to lower rates of homicide and violence, thereby positively impacting resident health and leading to a reduction in health disparities. Conversely, neighborhoods where engagement is low are found to have higher levels of social disorganization. Social disorganization theory posits that place matters—neighborhood environment, neighbor relationships and social cohesion. Neighbor willingness to regulate and intervene on social issues and concerns is considered directly related to crime rates as well as perceptions of personal health and safety. Perceptions of safety are directly connected to physical health outcomes, while mental health outcomes are directly linked to safety and a sense of connectedness in neighborhoods.

Author

• Mary Ellen Brown, Arizona State University