An evaluation of factors relating to fear of crime

Bird, Emma (2014) An evaluation of factors relating to fear of crime. Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Fear of crime (FoC) is becoming increasingly prevalent within research, despite the decrease in crime rates. This study has aimed to evaluate the relationship between gender, existing victimisation of crime and violent crime, mental health, personality type and FoC. Participants were recruited via opportunity sampling (N = 223). All participants completed an online battery of pre-existing self-report questionnaires. The personality types that were assessed were neuroticism, extraversion and conscientiousness. Current anxiety and depression levels were attained for mental health. Independent t-tests revealed females to score significantly higher FoC than males, in line with previous findings. Non-victims were found to score higher FoC than victims. Thus highlighting the importance of manipulating factors within victimisation. Pearson’s r correlation established FoC to comprise significant relationships with anxiety, depression and neuroticism. Contradictory to previous findings, neuroticism was found to negatively predict FoC over extraversion and conscientiousness, using multiple regression analysis. It can be concluded that gender, victimisation, mental health and personality are individually related to FoC. Thus illustrating its diversity, and its impact at both individual and social levels. Nonetheless, further research expanding the reasons underlying FoC, would add to the current knowledge base.