NCJ Number
226447
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 2009 Pages: 40-55
Date Published
2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined students’ use of self-protective behaviors and compared gender differences in fear, and the perceived likelihood of different types of crime.
Abstract
Results support the body of literature that reports female students are more fearful of crime, believe they are more likely to be victimized, and are more likely to engage in self-protective behaviors than are male students. Fear of crime is a better predictor of the use of self-protective behaviors than is perceived risk of victimization for both sexes. Even then, fear and likelihood are of varying importance based on type of crime. Other independent variables that had varying significance in determining level of fear or likelihood or use of self-protective behaviors was sex, academic year, and whether primary residence was within walking distance of campus. Two variables that were theorized to be significant, such as race, and type of hometown, had no significance in any of the statistical models. The low response rate, coupled with the difficulties in calculating it, did create a potential threat to validity in statistical results. Data were collected by sending an e-mail to 9,500 undergraduates of a large urban mid-Atlantic university requesting participation in a survey; 776 respondents completed the survey. Tables and references