Exploring the Relationships of Crime Victimization with Depression, Anxiety, and Loneliness in Twin Families

Abstract Crime victimization is associated with a more unfavorable health profile. We examined associations of property, violence, and sexual crime mental indices for depression, anxiety, loneliness explore their etiology in Dutch twin families. The data were collected from adult twins, parents, siblings, spouses, offspring participating longitudinal survey studies the Netherlands Twin Register ( N = 19,867). First, we tested if there an association between loneliness, depression at population level. Second, discordant pairs identified, where one was victim cotwin not. This design allows controlling confounding by shared environment genetic factors. Third, comparison made pre- post-victimization victims, family members, unrelated individuals. At level, increased except property crime, which not anxiety. strongest violent crimes. Within pairs, no significant differences found victimized non-victimized twins. These results confirm that adverse outcomes strength this differing per type crime. There strong evidence relationship or follows simple causal model, as can be partly explained environmental confounding. also suggest victims crimes may already experience problems before than non-victims, individuals are risk becoming victim.