Criminal Victimization, Social Capital and Mental Health: The Impact of Gender

Background: The experience of criminal victimization was found to have short and long-term negative effects on mental health, particularly PTSD, anxiety and depression. Social capital was identified in several studies as a factor reducing the negative impact of criminal victimization on mental health. On the other hand it is widely known that prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder is higher in women than in men. In this study it will be investigated, if the negative effects of criminal victimization on mental disorder are moderated by gender and if the moderating effect of social capital differs between sexes.

Method: In a representative study 3000 inhabitants of a major urban region in Germany were asked about their experience of criminal victimization, their perception of social capital and their subjective mental health status.

Results: Study results revealed strong negative effects of criminal victimization on mental health. As indicated by significant interaction effects the perception of social capital was found to reduce the negative effects of criminal victimization in both sexes. While the negative effects of criminal victimization on symptoms of depression and anxiety were stronger in females than in their male counterparts, the moderating effects of perceived social capital was also stronger in women than in men.

Discussion: Negative effects of criminal victimization on mental health are stronger in women than in men. However, women seem to benefit more from the perception of good social relationships with regard to cope with the negative mental health effects of victimization.