Gender-specific associations between perceived and objective neighbourhood crime and metabolic syndrome

PLoS One. 2018 Jul 26;13(7):e0201336. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201336. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Much research has considered the relationship between neighbourhood crime and physical activity, but few studies have assessed clinical outcomes consequent to behaviour, such as cardiometabolic risk. Fewer still have simultaneously assessed perceived and objective measures of crime. Perceptions of crime and actual victimisation vary according to gender; thus, this study sought to assess: 1) correspondence between perceived and objective neighbourhood crime; and 2) gender-specific associations between perceived and reported crime and metabolic syndrome, representing cardiometabolic risk. The indirect effect of neighbourhood crime on metabolic syndrome via walking was additionally evaluated. An Australian population-based biomedical cohort study (2004-2007) collected biomedical, socio-demographic, and neighbourhood perceptions data from n = 1,172 urban-dwelling, adults. Area-level reported crime rates were standardised and linked to individual data based on participants' residential location. Correspondence between actual and perceived crime measures was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Cross-sectional associations between crime and metabolic syndrome were analysed using generalised estimating equations regression models accounting for socio-demographic factors and area-level income. Correspondence between perceived and objective crime was small to medium among men and women (r = 0.17 to 0.33). Among men, metabolic syndrome was related to rates of violent (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.08-1.35) and total crime (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.32), after accounting for perceived crime. Among women, metabolic syndrome was related to perceived crime (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.14-1.60) after accounting for total reported crime. Among women, there were indirect effects of perceived crime and property crime on metabolic syndrome through walking. Results indicate that crime, an adverse social exposure, is linked to clinical health status. Crime rates, and perceptions of crime and safety, differentially impact upon cardiometabolic health according to gender. Social policy and public health strategies targeting crime reduction, as well as strategies to increase perceptions of safety, have potential to contribute to improved cardiometabolic outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Crime*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Perception
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Walking

Grants and funding

The Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, Centre for Population Health Research at the University of South Australia in collaboration with the South Australian Department of Health conducted this research supported in part under National Health and Medical Research Council Projects (no. 631917 and no. 570150) investigating the relationships between place and metabolic syndrome (PAMS). Additional support was from a Research SA Research Chair (Social Epidemiology) awarded to MD. NJH was supported by National Health and Medical Research Council grants no. 631917 and no. 570150. CP was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council Post-doctoral Training Research Fellowship (#570139) and salary support from a National Health and Medical Research Council Program Grant (#0631947). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.