The Health Consequences of Fear of Terrorism and Mass Shootings

• In Event: Conceptions and Consequences of Fear of Crime

Abstract

Amidst a surge in violence during the 2020-2021 period, scholarship on the fear of crime has experienced a renaissance in the social and environmental sciences. Much of this work, as well as prior theorizing on fear of crime, focuses on violence or property crime broadly and on support for policies, practices, or mitigation strategies to prevent victimization. In turn, less research has focused on the mental and physical health consequences of fear of crime, particularly for less common but more extreme forms of it. The current study uses unique survey data to explore whether fear of terrorism or mass shootings is associated with poorer health outcomes, net of other key health-related control variables. Differences across socio-demographic groups are also examined. We discuss the implications of these findings for both the fear of crime and health and crime literatures.

Authors

• Jeffrey Gruenewald, University of Arkansas

• Michael Niño, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

• Casey T. Harris, University of Arkansas