NCJ Number
57572
Date Published
1975
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIONSHIP OF AGE AND OTHER DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES TO FEAR OF CRIME IS EXPLORED IN AN ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM THE 1974 NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEY (1,484-SUBJECT NATIONWIDE PROBABILITY SAMPLE).
Abstract
A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER PERCENTAGE OF RESPONDENTS AGED 60 OR OLDER EXPRESSED FEAR ABOUT WALKING ALONE AT NIGHT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS THAN DID MIDDLE-AGED (40-59) AND YOUNGER (18-39) RESPONDENTS. WOMEN WERE MORE LIKELY THAN MEN TO EXPRESS FEAR, AND RESIDENTS OF URBAN AREAS WERE MORE AFRAID THAN RESIDENTS OF OTHER AREAS. IN COMBINATION, THE EFFECTS OF AGE, SEX, AND AREA OF RESIDENCE ARE STRONG PREDICTORS OF FEAR: 85 PERCENT OF THE OLDER, URBAN, FEMALE RESPONDENTS EXPRESSED FEAR, COMPARED TO 7 PERCENT OF YOUNGER, RURAL, MALE RESPONDENTS. THE FINDINGS IMPLY THAT ELDERLY URBAN RESIDENTS, AFRAID TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, ARE LIKELY TO BECOME ISOLATED. THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES SUFFERS AS A CONSEQUENCE. THE OBVIOUS WAY TO DIMINISH THE FEARS OF THE ELDERLY IS TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF STREET CRIME. THE NEXT BEST SOLUTION IS TO PROVIDE THE ELDERLY WITH ADDITIONAL SECURITY THROUGH DEMAND-RESPONSIVE TRANSPORTATION, INCREASED STREET LIGHTING, PEDESTRIAN ALARM BOXES, NEIGHBORHOOD BUDDY SYSTEMS, AND ESCORT SERVICES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)