Minority Report: Prevalence of Fear of Violent and Property Crimes Among a Diverse College Sample

Abstract

Fear is associated with several adverse health behaviors and outcomes. Fear of crime is associated with less exercise and outdoor activity, worse self-rated health status, and increased BMI. Fear of crime is also associated with more anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Yet little is known about the predictors of fear of specific types of crime. The objectives of this study are to (1) determine the prevalence of fear of violent victimization and fear of property crime among university students, (2) assess the association between sociodemographic predictors and (a) fear of violent victimization and (b) property crimes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students (n = 1415). Data on sociodemographics, fear of a variety of types of violent crime (physical assault, sexual assault, robbery/burglary, murder, and verbal threats), and property crime (arson, theft, and vandalism) were collected using online surveys. Summary variables for fear of violent crime and fear of property crime were created. Wilcoxen rank-sum and Kruskal–Wallis tests, and multivariate negative binomial regression models were used to assess relationships between sociodemographic predictors and fear variables. Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students had the highest mean fear scores of physical assault, robbery/burglary, arson, and theft, while fear of verbal threats and vandalism were highest among Middle Eastern students. Muslim students reported the highest fear of verbal threats, arson, and vandalism. In multivariate models, fear of violent crime was significantly higher among Black (ME: 5.59), Hispanic (ME: 5.16), Asian (ME: 3.07), female (ME: 8.19), transgender/gender non-conforming (ME: 9.82), gay (ME: 12.16), and bisexual (ME: 3.74) students while fear of property crime was significantly higher among Black (ME: 2.81), Hispanic (ME: 2.10), Asian (ME: 1.84), female (ME: 2.49), and gay (ME: 3.11) students. Minority students have higher levels of fear than their peers. Universities must consider the issue of fear among minority students in an effort to prevent this public health issue.