Soc Sci Med May 2019 PMID 30885673

Broken (windows) theory: A meta-analysis of the evidence for the pathways from neighborhood disorder to resident health outcomes and behaviors.

Daniel T O'Brien, Chelsea Farrell, Brandon C Welsh

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Mentions

Peak: 2 in Apr 2019

across 6 sources since Apr 2019

Extended reach

8,142

potential audience

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146

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Apr 2019 – Aug 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

Participants discuss the consistency of the evidence linking perceived neighborhood disorder to mental health and substance use, noting that the meta-analysis challenges the strength of the broken windows theory. Their tone varies from cautious support to critical, with phrases like 'overstated support' and 'questioning the biases,' reflecting a nuanced engagement driven by methodological concerns and implications for social policy.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the findings, especially questioning or supporting the validity of the broken windows theory based on the provided evidence.

InterestModerate interest

Postings demonstrate moderate interest, with some referencing the methodology and implications rather than just expressing opinions.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many users engage deeply by analyzing the study's conclusions, discussing its methodology, limitations, and potential influence on policy or community perceptions.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that this research could influence opinions about neighborhood disorder and police strategies, although some remain skeptical about its overall impact.

Abstract in brief

The meta-analysis examined how neighborhood disorder affects residents' health through three proposed pathways and found consistent links between perceived disorder and mental health issues, substance abuse, and overall health.
There was little evidence to support that neighborhood disorder directly impacts physical health or risky behaviors, with findings affected by methodological issues like data censoring and missing important factors such as socioeconomic status.
The study suggests that support for the broken windows theory may be overstated because much of the evidence relies on subjective perceptions of disorder, which could be biased by individual mental health or outlook on the neighborhood.]

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Broken (windows) theory: A meta-analysis of the evidence for the split feasibility and fixed point problems

Apr 18, 2019 · 1 share · 124 followers View post →