BMC Public Health 2009, 9:221 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/221 reputation, this influence could have either a positive or negative effect on an individual's self-esteem [32,33]. Study aims The aim of the study was to examine environmental, socio-demographic, and personal correlates of safety- related concerns at the local level in urban communities. The specific aim was to investigate such correlates in con- tiguous neighbourhoods in a Swedish urban municipal- ity. Methods Study setting The study was undertaken at the local level in a Swedish urban municipality (population 42,000 in 2005). Six housing areas with a total of 6300 residents (aged 20–79 years) were investigated. The selection of the housing areas was made after consultation with municipality offi- cials in order to choose areas geographically recognized by local people. As a basis, the municipal administrative office provided a map showing the areas geographically defined for statistical purposes [34]. The six housing areas selected were geographically located two-by-two, i.e. two areas were spatially contiguous to each other in three different neighbourhood settings. The areas were given fictitious names indicating the type of property. Setting Alpha incorporates area Alpha-house (detached houses) and Alpha-flat (blocks of flats); setting Beta incorporates area Beta-mix (mixed tenure and types Table 1: Structural features of the housing areas studieda of houses) and Beta-flat (blocks of flats); and setting Gamma incorporates area Gamma-house (detached houses) and Gamma-flat (blocks of flats). The proportion of non-residential land-use was higher in the three areas with blocks of flats. Within each of the three settings there was a small local community centre with both public and private services such as a grocery store, day-care centre, bus transport and a common public school, all with good access irrespective of the living area within the setting. Within each setting, the residents also shared a fair-sized green space for recreation. The characteristics of the areas based on recorded data are presented in Table 1. The population in each of the two areas within the three settings contrasted with the other demographically and socio-economically. The residents in the small-scale areas were more socially advantaged and more residentially stable than the residents in areas with blocks of flats. Motor-vehicle density was higher in the small-scale areas (Table 1). Registered data on crime rates for each housing area were collected from the local police office (Table 2). The data on reported crime were grouped into five categories according to the Swedish penal code: (a) crime against life and health; (b) crime against freedom and serenity; (c) theft and robbery; (d) crime of damage; (e) other crimes. Information for 3 years (2003–2005) was included to increase area stability for reported crime. In settings Alpha Variable Total populationb Residents by type of propertya Blocks of flats (%) Detached houses (%) Period of constructiona Resident turnover (%)c Motor-vehicle density (no./1000 inhabitants)d Mean for whole municipality (index 100): Gainfully employed 20–64 yearse Disposable income >20 yearse Housing allowancef Social allowanceg >12 years in school (%)b High-income residents (%)h 1423 10 (0.7) 1413 (99.3) 1966–1975 107 (7.5) 430 114 131 97 48 264 (26.1) 222 (22) 1918 1918 (100) 0 1966–1970 363 (18.1) 270 81 77 113 109 126 (9.5) 44 (3.3) 1857 761 (41) 1096 (59) 1951–1960 272 (14.4) 380 102 95 79 84 281 (21.5) 202 (15.4) Beta-flat 1680 1675 (99.7) 5 (0.3) 1966–1970 289 (17.4) 303 80 66 89 124 142 (12) 35 (3) 794 0 794 (100) 1971–75 45 (5.8) 464 104 122 93 27 98 (16.9) 81 (14) 1364 1262 (93) 97 (7) 1961–1965 262 (18.4) 291 85 75 100 131 98 (9.7) 39 (4) Setting Alpha Setting Beta Setting Gamma Alpha-house Alpha-flat Beta-mix Gamma-house Gamma-flat aData source: Statistics Sweden. bDate 30 September 2005. cResidents' turnover 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005. dDate 31 December 2004. eINKOPAK, 2004. fHousing allowance for families with children (bostadsbidrag) as well as for pensioners (bostadstillägg). gThe social allowance should give a reasonable standard of living. hHigh income defined as ≥ 300,000 Swedish crowns (SEK)/year in 2004. US$1 = SEK6.6; EUR1 = SEK9.0; date 30 December 2004. Page 3 of 11 (page number not for citation purposes)