Neighborhood Social Heterogeneity and Crime Victimization in Japan: Moderating Effects of Social Networks

Abstract

We sought to apply social disorganization/social capital theory to the prediction of larceny victimization among community-dwelling residents. Based on social disorganization theory, we empirically derived an index of “social distance” by calculating averaged differences in sociodemographic characteristics (social class, stage of life course, size of hometown of origin) between residents. Our study was based on a postal questionnaire mailed to 1,000 residents of Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, Japan. Based on social capital theory, we also tested if neighborhood-level social ties could buffer the association between social distance and larceny victimization. Using multilevel analyses, we found that higher neighborhood-level social distance was associated with increased larceny victimization, independently of the respondents’ own background sociodemographic characteristics. Additionally, area-level supportive networks buffered the adverse effect of social distance on larceny victimization. By contrast, we also found that network size magnified the probability of victimization in neighborhoods characterized by large social distances between residents.