Fear of Violence among Australian Women

Abstract

Fear of crime has emerged as one of the most important issues in many communities. Indeed, it appears as serious a problem as crime itself, and many believe the fear is exaggerated. Heightened fear of crime has important implications for the quality of life. It increases psychological distress and restricts outdoor activity. Crime surveys show that women admit to more fear than other population groups. Based on the analysis of an Australian survey, our findings give strong support to social and economic vulnerability, concern for the safety of other family members, and women's experiences of physical violence as being among the main sources of fear of crime among Australian women.