Crime, subjective social stress and support indicators, and ethnic origin: The Israeli experience*

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between the subjective perception of stress and support (as independent variables) and the prevalence of homicide, robbery, and property offenses, while controlling for the effect of ethnic origin. This was done by analyzing (on the aggregate level) how these crimes are related to the differential perception of stress and support among respondents of Eastern (Asian or North African) and Western (European or American) origin. The theoretical framework is provided by a model which postulates that crime will be related positively to stress factors and negatively to support systems. The theoretical model was substantially supported by the findings. Economic stress indicators had a greater effect on crime rates than did security-related indicators, especially among Eastern respondents, and the perception of social solidarity among Eastern respondents was related more closely to crime than among their Western counterparts, as expected. Contrary to expectation, however, the perception of stress was related less closely to robbery and property crime among Eastern respondents than among Western respondents. Suggestions are made for future studies in this new line of criminological research.