Social Capital As a Moderator Variable Between Neighborhood Characteristics, Perceived Environmental Safety and Mental Health

The role of neighborhood characteristics and perceived environmental safety in the process of mental health and illness has been investigated in a large number of studies. However, since only few studies used multi-level data sets the associations between individual characteristics and environmental conditions are rarely understood so far.

In this study the effects of neighborhood characteristics and subjective safety on mental health of people in urban areas will be investigated. The study sample consists of 3000 inhabitants of a larger urban conurbation in Germany. Subjective safety, experiences of criminal victimization, subjective assessment of social capital and mental health status were assessed by means of a representative telephone survey. Data on socio-economic neighborhood characteristics were gained from local statistical offices. Individual and neighborhood data were linked at the basis of 130 statistical areas. Data were analyzed by means of hierarchical regression model with the person at level one and the environmental characteristics at level two.

Main target of the analysis is to understand the role of social capital as a moderator variable between environmental conditions, perceived safety and mental health.