Crime and mental health: Examining the associations between perceived insecurity, crime victimization, and psychological distress in Chile

• Perceived insecurity and crime victimization increase psychological distress. • Perceived insecurity and crime victimization have similar effects on mental health. • Crime victimization significantly reduces life satisfaction. • Impact of perceived insecurity and crime victimization varies by gender and age. • Police presence in neighborhoods protects mental health and life satisfaction. Crime in residential areas is a key social determinant of mental health and well-being, yet few studies incorporate both objective and subjective crime measures or examine the causal impact of perceived insecurity on mental health and life satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived insecurity within residential contexts, as well as crime victimization, and mental health and life satisfaction in Chile. We utilized nationally representative data from a survey (n=10,686) that combined both objective and subjective measures of crime in Chile. Mental health was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. To examine the association between perceived insecurity and mental health, we used an instrumental variable regression model, adjusting for relevant sociodemographic factors and health antecedents. Perceived insecurity and crime victimization in residential settings are associated with higher levels of psychological distress. Crime victimization shows a strong association with reduced life satisfaction, whereas perceived insecurity does not. Standardized analyses showed that a one-standard deviation decrease in perceived security was associated with a 9% increase in PHQ-4 scores, while a comparable rise in crime victimization was associated with a 7% increase, indicating similar patterns in relation to mental health. Additionally, police presence in the neighborhood is associated with better mental health and higher life satisfaction. Perceived insecurity in the residential context and crime victimization are significant contextual factors associated with poorer mental health. Social policies that mitigate stressors related to crime and perceived insecurity may contribute to improving the population’s mental health.