Elderly females' perceptions of vulnerability to victimization
Date
1991
Authors
Walker, S. Gail
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Abstract
Twenty elderly females living in two neighbourhoods in Victoria, British Columbia were involved in a study to assess their perceptions of vulnerability to victimization, their related behavioural responses and, the consequences
of these effects. Fear of crime was defined as one's perception of vulnerability of the potential of victimization, and was regarded as containing a cognitive and an affective component. The instrument was comprised of two sections, a questionnaire that contained eight quantifiable sections and a four part video presentation. The conceptual framework was based on Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, (1986) explained in terms of triadic reciprocal determinism in which behaviour, cognition and other personal factors, and environmental events all operate as interacting determinants of each other. The findings revealed that health status, family and financial concerns, direct and vicarious victimization experiences, perceived recuperative capabilities from injury, social and neighbourhood integration were all factors correlated with vulnerability to victimization. No direct causal link was found between direct victimization experiences and vulnerability to victimization. The locus of social activity was the home and its immediate vicinity and involvement in night time activities were low. Information was provided for potential use for local government policy development regarding fear of skateboarders in the downtown city core.