The Relationships Between Fear of Crime, Race, and Loneliness: Evidence from a State-wide Survey in Arkansas

• In Event: Conceptions and Consequences of Fear of Crime

Abstract

There is a growing body of research linking fear of crime to poor mental health. The majority of work in this area focuses on depressive symptoms, overlooking other important indicators of mental health, including loneliness. To address this gap in the literature, the current study examines the effect of crime-specific fears on loneliness. Given that there are significant differences in perceptions of crime by race, we also investigate whether fear of crime-loneliness relationships differ for Black and White adults. Data for this study were drawn from a state-wide sample (N=1,978) of adults residing in Arkansas. Results from our multivariable regression models demonstrate fear of a violent crime increased the risk of loneliness among Arkansans. When examining differences across race, fear of a violent crime and fear of a mass shooting significantly increased loneliness for Black Arkansans, whereas fear of a terrorist attack was associated with a rise in loneliness for White Arkansans. Findings from this study highlight the intricate ways fear of crime and race intersect to influence mental health.

Authors

• Sidney Bigham, University of Arkansas

• Michael Niño, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville