Violent Crime and Park Use in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods. 2018

Bing Han, and Deborah A Cohen, and Kathryn P Derose, and Jiang Li, and Stephanie Williamson
Statistics Group, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California. Electronic address: bhan@rand.org.

Crime and safety are often cited as potential hurdles to park use and park-based physical activity. Using comprehensive data sources including both objective and subjective measurements at the park level and the individual level, this study aimed to assess the association between crime rates and use of local parks in low-income urban neighborhoods. The authors observed 48 parks and conducted local resident surveys in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles during a 2-year study period (2013-2015). Crime data were geocoded within a 1-mile radius of parks' addresses and longitudinal models were fitted to estimate the association between crime rates and park use outcomes in 2017. One gun-related violent crime per 10,000 people during the 6-month period prior to data collection was associated with an average of 13.5%-15.8% reduction in observed park use and park-based moderate to vigorous physical activity (p<0.05) in the 6-month observation period. The relationship was significant in seniors (33%-40% reduction) and adults (13%-18%), but insignificant for teenagers (2%-4%) and children (10%-12%). Homicide rates were also significantly related to lower self-reported park use (p<0.05). Gun-related violent crimes have relatively long-term negative associations with population health by reducing utilization of outdoor park space. There can be additional population health benefits from controlling and reducing gun-related violent crimes beyond immediate impacts on public safety and mortality.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011203 Poverty A situation in which the level of living of an individual, family, or group is below the standard of the community. It is often related to a specific income level. Federal Poverty Level,Federal Poverty Threshold,Indigency,Low-Income Population,Absolute Poverty,Extreme Poverty,Indigents,Low Income Population,Federal Poverty Levels,Indigent,Level, Federal Poverty,Low Income Populations,Low-Income Populations,Population, Low Income,Population, Low-Income,Poverty Level, Federal,Poverty Threshold, Federal,Poverty, Absolute,Poverty, Extreme
D012111 Residence Characteristics Elements of residence that characterize a population. They are applicable in determining need for and utilization of health services. Community,Domicile,Living Arrangements,Neighborhood,Place of Birth,Residential Selection,Arrangement, Living,Birth Place,Communities,Domiciles,Living Arrangement,Neighborhoods,Residence Characteristic
D003415 Crime A violation of the criminal law, i.e., a breach of the conduct code specifically sanctioned by the state, which through its administrative agencies prosecutes offenders and imposes and administers punishments. The concept includes unacceptable actions whether prosecuted or going unpunished. Kidnapping,Poaching,Crimes,Kidnappings
D004779 Environment Design The structuring of the environment to permit or promote specific patterns of behavior. Design, Environment,Healthy Places,Designs, Environment,Environment Designs,Healthy Place
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000068316 Parks, Recreational An area of land open to the public for enjoyment. Green Space,Community Parks,National Parks,Urban Parks,Community Park,Green Spaces,National Park,Park, Community,Park, National,Park, Recreational,Park, Urban,Parks, Community,Parks, National,Parks, Urban,Recreational Park,Recreational Parks,Space, Green,Urban Park
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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