Citation

Cook CL, Fox KA. J. Crim. Justice 2012; 40(2): 142-151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2012.02.006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE: The current study tests the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis and extends recent research by examining whether the fear of physical harm or the fear of sexual assault has a greater impact on fear of other crimes.

METHODS: To determine the unique interaction between gender and fear, we conduct separate analyses among men and women.

RESULTS: While fear of physical harm and fear of sexual intrusion are both predictive of fear of home invasion, robbery, and murder, fear of physical harm has a significantly greater impact across all types of fear (e.g., home invasion, robbery, murder).

CONCLUSIONS: Despite previous empirical evidence that suggests fear operates differently among men and women, our findings suggest that fear of physical harm - rather than fear of sexual intrusion - is a more robust predictor of fear of crime among both men and women. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en