The contribution of objective and perceived crime to neighbourhood socio-economic inequity in loneliness

Loneliness tends to be more prevalent in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, yet few studies explore the environmental differences contributing to area-based inequity in loneliness. This study examined how perceived and objective crime contributed to differences in loneliness between advantaged and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The study used cross-sectional data from 3749 individuals aged between 48 and 77 years, residing in 200 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia. We found that participants in disadvantaged neighbourhoods reported higher levels of loneliness and perceived crime, and the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods also had highest prevalence of objective crime. However, while perceived and objective crime were positively correlated with loneliness, only perceived crime accounted for socio-economic inequity in loneliness. Consequently, perceived crime plays an important role in addressing loneliness in disadvantaged communities and requires equitable resourcing for multiple strategies that aim to decrease crime and increase perceived safety. •Perceived and objective crime may contribute to inequities in loneliness.•Objective and perceived crime are higher in disadvantaged areas.•Perceived and objective crime are associated with loneliness.•Only perceived crime contributed to socio-economic inequity in loneliness.