TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of safety and exposure to violence in public places among working age adults with disabilities or long-term health conditions in the UK
T2 - cross sectional study
AU - Emerson, E.
AU - Krnjacki, L.
AU - Llewellyn, G.
AU - Vaughan, C.
AU - Kavanagh, A.
PY - 2016/6
Y1 - 2016/6
N2 - Objectives To examine perceptions of safety and exposure to violence in public places among working age adults with and without disabilities in the UK and to assess the extent to which any between-group differences may be moderated by gender and socio-economic situation. Study design Cross-sectional study. Methods Secondary analysis of data collected in Wave 3 (2011–13) of Understanding Society. Data were extracted on a subsample of 5069 respondents aged 16 to 64 years (28% of whom had a disability/long-term health condition) who were administered a questionnaire module addressing experiences of harassment. Between-group comparisons were made on four self-reported indicators of safety. Results Respondents with disabilities/long-term health conditions were significantly more likely to have been attacked (adjusted OR 2.30, 95%CI 1.17–4.50, P < 0.05), insulted (adjusted OR 1.48, 95%CI 1.16–1.90, P < 0.01) and to feel unsafe in public places (adjusted OR 1.32, 95%CI 1.16–1.56, P < 0.01) over the previous 12 months. There were no statistically significant differences between groups with regard to self-reported avoidance of public places. These associations were moderated by both gender and poverty status, with the increased risk of exposure to violence among people with disabilities being greater for both women and people living in poverty. Conclusions The data add further support to the growing evidence base suggesting that people with a disability/long-term health condition are at significantly increased risk of exposure to interpersonal violence, particularly if they are living in poverty or are women. As such, there is a clear need to develop interventions that are targeted to the particular circumstances and needs of these high risk groups.
AB - Objectives To examine perceptions of safety and exposure to violence in public places among working age adults with and without disabilities in the UK and to assess the extent to which any between-group differences may be moderated by gender and socio-economic situation. Study design Cross-sectional study. Methods Secondary analysis of data collected in Wave 3 (2011–13) of Understanding Society. Data were extracted on a subsample of 5069 respondents aged 16 to 64 years (28% of whom had a disability/long-term health condition) who were administered a questionnaire module addressing experiences of harassment. Between-group comparisons were made on four self-reported indicators of safety. Results Respondents with disabilities/long-term health conditions were significantly more likely to have been attacked (adjusted OR 2.30, 95%CI 1.17–4.50, P < 0.05), insulted (adjusted OR 1.48, 95%CI 1.16–1.90, P < 0.01) and to feel unsafe in public places (adjusted OR 1.32, 95%CI 1.16–1.56, P < 0.01) over the previous 12 months. There were no statistically significant differences between groups with regard to self-reported avoidance of public places. These associations were moderated by both gender and poverty status, with the increased risk of exposure to violence among people with disabilities being greater for both women and people living in poverty. Conclusions The data add further support to the growing evidence base suggesting that people with a disability/long-term health condition are at significantly increased risk of exposure to interpersonal violence, particularly if they are living in poverty or are women. As such, there is a clear need to develop interventions that are targeted to the particular circumstances and needs of these high risk groups.
KW - Disability
KW - Safety
KW - Violence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84960158902&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.10.036
DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.10.036
M3 - Article
C2 - 26976491
AN - SCOPUS:84960158902
SN - 0033-3506
VL - 135
SP - 91
EP - 96
JO - Public Health
JF - Public Health
ER -