Crime Victims' Well-Being and Fear in a Prospective and Longitudinal Study

Abstract

A study is presented on the influence of criminal victimization on well-being and fear within a nationwide sample of the Dutch population. The study focused on differences between victims and non-victims, and on the causality between crime and psychological upheaval. The design of the study was prospective, it included victims of several crime-types, and a matched sample of non-victims. The reactions of victims were measured before, and within two weeks, one month and two months after the crime. Results indicated that victims of crime systematically report lower levels of well-being, and, to some extent, higher levels of fear. Next, some indications were found supporting the notion that victims of violent crimes suffer more psychological distress than victims of property crimes. And finally, the data imply that, after the incident victims were ‘unhappier’ than non-victims, but, at least partly, already were so before the crime took place.