ASSESSING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL COST OF SOCIAL DISORDER: FEELING OF SAFETY, VICTIMIZATION BY VIOLENCE AND SATISFACTION WITH LIFE

Abstract

Objective: This study examines how social disorder affects satisfaction with life, highlighting the mediating role of violence victimization and feeling of safety.   Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, collecting data from 427 participants through surveys. Variables were analyzed using structural equations in PLS-SEM.   Results: This study demonstrates how social disorder reduce feeling of safety and increases violence victimization, negatively impacting satisfaction with life. It reveals a positive correlation between Feeling of safety and satisfaction with life, and a negative correlation between violence victimization and satisfaction with life. It also confirms that social disorder indirectly affects satisfaction with life by reducing Feeling of safety and increasing victimization, showing mediating effects.   Conclusions: The findings reveal that social disorder, characterized by urban environments marked by abandonment and neglect, significantly contributes to a decreased feeling of security among residents, which in turn negatively affects their satisfaction with life. Furthermore, violence victimization was identified as acting as a critical mediator in this relationship, exacerbating the negative impact of social disorder on satisfaction with life.   Contribution: The study provides empirical evidence that proactive management and maintenance of the urban environment is essential not only to improve feeling of safety but also to mitigate violence victimization. By proactively addressing urban challenges, we can create safer and more welcoming spaces that promote collective well-being and strengthen the social fabric of our cities.