In 2015, a study unveiled a peculiar correlation between crime rates and unintentional injury occurrences in men with low resting heart rates. Now, a similar investigation focusing on women has revealed a comparable association, challenging the notion that risk-taking tendencies are gender-specific.
Researchers from the United States, Sweden, and Finland meticulously tracked the criminal records of 12,499 women over a span of up to 40 years. They discovered that women with low resting heart rates were marginally more likely to be convicted of non-violent offenses. However, it’s crucial to emphasize that having a low heart rate doesn’t inherently predispose women to criminal behavior.
Interestingly, these women also exhibited a higher propensity for unintentional injuries. This observation suggests that decreased activity in the autonomic nervous system, responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, might incline individuals towards seeking excitement and taking risks.
Despite crime prevention strategies typically focusing on social and personality factors, this study delved into the potential link between heart rates and behavioral patterns among women. The researchers monitored 12,499 Swedish women who underwent physical examinations, including heart rate and blood pressure measurements, upon joining the military at approximately 18 years old. Subsequently, they tracked any criminal convictions or unintentional injuries experienced by these women over several decades.
The findings revealed that women with the lowest resting heart rates, below 69 beats per minute (BPM), faced a 35 percent higher likelihood of criminal convictions compared to those with heart rates exceeding 83 BPM. Moreover, a notable association was observed between low heart rates and increased non-violent crime convictions, while such a link wasn’t apparent for violent crimes.
Further analysis indicated that individuals with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels, specifically 113 mmHg or lower, were 26 percent more prone to criminal activity compared to those with higher SBP levels (134 mmHg or higher). However, the association between SBP levels and crime was less pronounced across other ranges.
Additionally, individuals with lower resting heart rates exhibited a heightened risk of treatment or mortality due to unintentional injuries, excluding instances like self-harm or vehicular accidents.
It’s worth noting that caution should be exercised when interpreting these findings, as female military volunteers may not entirely represent the general population. Nevertheless, if corroborated by further research, these insights into the biological underpinnings of criminal behavior could inform the development of more effective intervention strategies.
The study, published in PLOS ONE, underscores the potential of reduced autonomic arousal, particularly reflected in lower resting heart rates, as a predictive factor for criminal involvement, not only in men as previously suggested but also in women.
