Exploring the association between perceived neighborhood safety and quality of life in the Detroit metro area

Urban quality of life is shaped by both personal well-being and environmental context, including perceptions of neighborhood safety. This study investigated the relationship between perceived neighborhood safety and self-reported changes in perceived quality of life (PQOL) among residents of the Detroit Metro Area (N = 1,911) using data from Wave 16 of the Detroit Metro Area Communities Study (DMACS). Guided by Social Ecological Theory, ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the association of three neighborhood safety indicators: nighttime safety, walking safety, and hearing gunshots, adjusting for sociodemographic factors. Results indicated that all three safety indicators were significantly associated with PQOL. Residents who felt very safe at night or while walking had significantly higher odds of being in a higher PQOL category (p < 0.001). Although hearing gunshots during the past year was common (81%), residents who did not hear gunshots had 1.88 times the odds of being in a higher PQOL category (95% CI: 1.41–2.49, p < 0.001) compared to those who did. These findings highlight the central role of perceived safety in shaping PQOL and emphasize the need for interventions that enhance both actual neighborhood safety and residents’ sense of security within their environments.