Exploring the structural relationship of (Hate Crime) Victimization, incivilities, collective efficacy, fear of crime and institutional trust using structural equation modeling

• In Event: Understanding Victimization Across Social, Political, and Structural Contexts

Abstract

Research has shown that consequences of victimization include increased levels of fear of crime, constrained behavior as well as mistrust in institutions. These consequences have been shown to be especially severe in cases of hate crime victimization which is associated with lower quality of life as well as serious health issues such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, research has shown that consequences of victimization are also influenced by other factors, such as sociodemographic variables, collective efficacy and incivilities. To combine those two areas of research, data from large scale victimization surveys (n > 7,000) conducted by the State Department of Criminal Investigation Lower Saxony in Germany will be analyzed. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) we explore relationships between collective efficacy, incivilities, victimization and its consequences. With explorative SEM, all those factors can be modeled as dependent and independent variables at the same time. Thereby mediator effects can be shown, for example that victimization does not lead to constrained behavior directly, but indirectly by increasing perception of risk, leading to affective fear of crime – both increasing feelings of unsafety. Simultaneously, effects of collective efficacy, incivilities and trust in institutions can be explored while controlling for sociodemographic variables such as age and gender as well as different types of offences (i.e. hate crime vs. non-hate crime). The exploration of those structural relationships will be presented and discussed empirically as well as theoretically. Thereby, an important gap between two domains of research will be addressed. Furthermore, the results can be used practically to optimize victim support and assistance which may help prevent serious mental health impacts of victimization.

Authors

• Lukas Boll, State Office for Criminal Investigation Lower Saxony

• Viktoria Bosold, State Office for Criminal Investigation of Lower Saxony