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Fear of crime and elderly people: key-factors that determine fear of crime among elderly people in West Flanders.
De Donder, L. , Vert?, D. , & Messelis, E.
This paper analyses the determinants of fear of crime among elderly people in West Flanders, Belgium. Using data generated from interviews with 4747 men and women, aged 60-103, the impact on the level of fear of crime using 14 key factors was assessed. The analysis yielded conclusions in three areas. First, demographic variables such as gender, physical vulnerability and income correlate with fear of crime. Women feel less safe than men. Physical vulnerability and a low income increase fear of crime. Second, neighbourhood variables play an important role in the genesis of fear of crime. Elderly who feel that they live in a neighbourhood that is adapted to elderly and who show more neighbourhood involvement feel safer than elderly who don?t feel they live in such neighbourhoods nor have such involvement. Also loneliness and lack of participation in both social and cultural life show a strong relationship with fear of crime. Third, it?s argued that watching television correlates to an increased fear of crime while the daily reading of a newspaper decreases fear of crime.
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