NCJ Number
102758
Journal
Sociological Quarterly Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: (1986) Pages: 327-341
Date Published
1986
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The causes and consequences of the fear of crime were investigated for a 1980 sample of 1,185 persons aged 60 and over residing in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y., Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Abstract
Census tracts were first stratified into three groups according to the percent aged 60 and over. Within each stratum, blocks were sampled proportionate to size, with up to three interviews conducted per sampled block. The average respondent age was 70.6, with 61 percent female. Nearly half resided in one of the three central cities. The study analyzed the relationship between personal, social, and environmental characteristics of respondents and the level of their fear of crime. Central city residents were less likely than suburban or rural residents to feel safe all of the time and more likely to feel unsafe most or all of the time. There were only scattered associations between perceived safety and personal variables. Women exhibited significantly lower perceived safety than men. Perceived safety was unreleated to social resources. Neighborhood age concentration did not apparently reduce fear of crime, and may have heightened it under some circumstances. Perceived safety was significantly associated with neighborhood satisfaction and overall morale. Perceived safety was unrelated to perceived size of the neighborhood and to frequency of travel to a grocery store, church, drug store, or bank. 4 data tables and 27 references.