The Association Between Fear of Crime, Life Satisfaction, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Non-Victimized Older Adults Aged 60-93 Years-Findings from the Swedish Good Aging in Skåne (GÅS) Population Based Study

Fear of crime (FOC) has been shown to be associated with negative physical and mental health effects, and older adults have been identified as a vulnerable group. As an individual as well as a societal problem, it is expected to increase in line with the growth of the older population. Nevertheless, the associations between FOC, life satisfaction (LS), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among non-victimized older adults are not well understood. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether levels of behavioral FOC in a sample of non-victimized older adults aged 60-93 years (mean age 69.6 years) were associated with HRQoL and LS. In this cross-sectional study a total of 5832 participants, representing both urban and rural areas, constituted the study sample. Associations between levels of behavioral FOC and LS as well as physical and mental HRQoL were examined in adjusted linear regression models. The results revealed that in those not previously exposed to violence or threats, FOC was associated with lower LS and poorer physical and mental HRQoL. When deterioration in HRQoL and LS in non-victimized older adults is discussed in a clinical setting, the possible link to FOC as an often unprovoked social stressor should be considered.