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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
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Published on: February 25, 2013
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Racial Differences in Activity Space Exposures and Everyday Perceptions of Safety Among Urban Youth
Christopher R Browning1, Nicolo P Pinchak2, Catherine A Calder3
1Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Institute for Population Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
Summary
Adolescent perceived safety is influenced by neighborhood characteristics. Black youth feel less safe in White neighborhoods, while White youth may feel safer, highlighting racial disparities in spatial safety perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Environmental psychology
- Adolescent health research
- Racial disparities in urban environments
Background:
- Adolescent health and development are significantly influenced by feelings of safety.
- Understanding the spatial determinants of perceived safety is crucial, especially across racial groups.
- Limited research exists on how immediate environmental exposures affect adolescents' sense of safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate racial variations in the spatial determinants of in-the-moment perceived safety among adolescents.
- To examine how exposure to different neighborhood types and violence influences perceived safety in Black and White youth.
- To understand the role of intraindividual variability in Global Positioning System (GPS)-based neighborhood exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Adolescent Health and Development in Context study in Columbus, Ohio (N=1,405).
- Employed Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking to assess neighborhood exposure.
- Used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture real-time safety perceptions of Black and White youth (ages 11-17).
Main Results:
- Increased exposure to neighborhood violence was associated with reduced safety perceptions for all youth.
- Black youth reported lower perceived safety when momentarily exposed to predominantly White neighborhoods.
- White youth showed a trend toward perceiving greater safety in White neighborhoods with increased exposure.
Conclusions:
- Racial disparities in health and well-being may stem from in situ environmental experiences.
- Focusing solely on segregated Black neighborhoods may overlook other significant exposures for Black youth.
- Environmental safety perceptions are complex and vary significantly by race and neighborhood composition.
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