Table 1

Crime and Mental Well-being Variables

VariableMeanStandard Deviation (Overall)Standard Deviation (Between)Standard Deviation (Within)VB/VWDescription
SF82.9522.8520.2713.10.71Social functioning: 0 = extreme and frequent interference with normal social activities due to physical or emotional problems; 100 = Performs normal social activities without interference due to physical or emotional problems.
VT60.6219.4617.52  9.69  0.77Vitality: 0 = Feels tired and worn out all of the time; 100 = Feels full of pep and energy all of the time.
RE83.4232.2127.7220.09  0.66Role emotional: 0 = Problems with work or other daily activities as a result of emotional problems, 100 = No problems with work or other daily activities as a result of emotional problems.
MH7416.9815.44  8.84  0.75Mental health: 0 = Feelings of nervousness and depression all of the time. 100 = Feels peaceful, happy, and calm all of the time.
MCS48.5710.29  9.27  5.51  0.74Mental component summary: Summary measure of mental well-being composed of a weighted average of the four measures defined above and then normalized to be between 1 – 100.
PF84.5822.1621.0810.52  0.80Physical function: 0 = Extremely limited in performing all physical function activities because of physical health; 100 = Performs physical function activities with ease
RP80.9234.4229.3920.29  0.68Role physical: 0 = no problem with work or regular daily activities due to physical problems; 100 = extreme difficulty in performing work or regular daily activities due to physical problems.
VCR921.03588.41574.69187.89  0.90Violent crime rate: Violent crime incidents per 100,000 individuals in the 12 months prior to interview.
PCR5811.523067.072904.81299.87  0.83Property crime rate: Property crime incidents per 100,000 individuals in the 12 months prior to interview.
VCq1      0.0063      0.08      0.062      0.063  0.50= 1 if victim of violent crime during previous 3 months, zero otherwise.
VCq2–4      0.011      0.104      0.088      0.078  0.56= 1 if victim of violent crime during previous 4 to 12 months, zero otherwise.
PCq1      0.021      0.145      0.104      0.117  0.44= 1 if victim of property crime during previous 3 months, zero otherwise.
PCq2–4      0.039      0.194      0.147      0.152  0.48= 1 if victim of property crime during previous 4 to 12 months, zero otherwise.
  • Notes: VB/Vw represents the fraction of the variance that is due to between (or cross-sectional) variation compared to within (over time) variation. Sources: See Data Appendix for crime rate data. Mental and physical well-being data and victimization obtained from HILDA (2001–2006).