Examining Fear of Crime and Precautionary Behaviors among Senior Citizens: A Qualitative Analysis

• In Event: Responses to Fear of Crime

Abstract

Early research on fear of crime using some problematic measures indicated that women and the elderly had a heightened fear of crime when compared to men and younger adults. These findings did not correspond with the national data on victimization, showing that young men were more likely to be victimized by crime. The early findings prompted researchers to look to theory to explain the seeming disconnect between demographic characteristics and victimization statistics. Later research testing theory and using more precise measures of fear have continued to show that women are more afraid than men, but younger people are often more afraid than senior citizens. Consequently, there have been few recent studies of fear of crime among senior citizens, and we know very little about fear of crime among this group in the last few decades. In an effort to fill this literature gap, this paper reports on the results of qualitative interviews with 72 senior citizens regarding their levels and experiences with fear of crime and the precautionary behaviors in which they engage to protect themselves from victimization.

Authors

• Jennifer L. Jarrett, University of Florida

• Jodi Lane, University of Florida