Fear, Risk, and Local Control: Testing the Generality of Ferraro’s Risk Interpretation Framework

Abstract

This study tests whether fear of victimization manifests in the same way across macro level contexts by drawing on Ferraro’s risk interpretation framework. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the invariance of the risk interpretation framework across a sample of weighted survey data drawn from three Michigan cities. Results indicated that the framework operated in a theoretically invariant manner across city samples by way of measurement and structural invariance. This demonstrates the framework’s generality by highlighting its ability to consistently explain fear of victimization at a macro level across three city samples. Accordingly, investing in risk communication strategies targeted at improving perceptions at a macro level may be transferable and useful in moderating fear of victimization.