Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association between Fear of Crime and Higher Body Mass Index

• Published in: American journal of health promotion Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 130 - 132
• Main Authors: Kodjebacheva, Gergana, Koleilat, Maria, Kruger, Daniel J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Body Mass Index; Crime - psychology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - complications; Fear - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Michigan - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Obesity - etiology; Young Adult; Body Mass Index; Fear of Crime; Prevention Research; Strategy: skill building/behavior change; Health focus: weight control, fitness/physical activity; Outcome measure: biometric; Target population age: adults, seniors; Depressive Symptoms; Exercise; Target population circumstances: education/income level and race/ethnicity; Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing; Manuscript format: brief; Setting: local community; Study design: nonexperimental; Fear of Crime, Depressive Symptoms, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: brief
• ISSN: 0890-1171; 2168-6602; 2168-6602
• DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.140103-ARB-6

Purpose. To investigate pathways in the association between fear of crime and obesity. Design. A cross-sectional survey was administered among residents aged 18 years and older across all Census tracts. Setting. Genesee County, Michigan. Subjects. A total of 3192 residents. Measures. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by using the respondents' reported height and weight. Composite fear-of-crime and depressive symptoms scores were calculated by using several survey items. Analysis. Path analysis examined the effects of fear of crime on BMI. Results. Fear of crime was associated with higher BMI. Depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between fear of crime and BMI (p < .001). Moderate exercise mediated the association between depressive symptoms and BMI (p < .001). Conclusion. Fear of crime was associated with depressive symptoms, which in turn were associated with reduced exercise and subsequently higher BMI.