Household Guardians: A Multilevel Analysis of Household-Level Guardianship and Individual-Level Victimization Risks

Guardianship is a multidimensional concept that influences the risk of victimization. However, the influence of the household—central to people’s routines—has been overlooked. Using data from the NCVS (2017–2022), this study employs a multilevel analysis of household guardianship to investigate residents’ risk of violent victimization and domestic violence, controlling for individual-level factors. Living in single-unit households, marriage, and owning a home reduce the risk of violent victimization. Conversely, owning a business and residing in urban areas increase this risk. For domestic violence, living in single-unit households increases the risk, whereas gated communities lower the risk. Implications for crime prevention and future directions on guardianship are discussed.