A comparison of influencing factors on disabled and non-disabled residents’ fear of crime

Crime is a tangible threat that anyone in modern society may face, and the fear of crime victimization has wide-ranging impacts across society. The growing interest in research on fear of crime victimization is largely due to the recognition that such fear extends beyond mere psychological anxiety, significantly affecting individuals' lifestyles, social interactions, and even the collective efficacy of communities. While early research on fear of crime focused predominantly on women and the elderly, recent studies have expanded to include a broader range of populations, such as adolescents and individuals with disabilities. However, there is a relative paucity of research that compares the impact of vulnerability factors on fear of crime between disabled and non-disabled groups. Fear of crime is influenced not only by individual characteristics but also by environmental factors surrounding the individual. This study aims to examine whether collective efficacy and perceptions of crime vulnerability influence fear of crime victimization and further seeks to compare the relative influence of these factors between disabled and non-disabled groups. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, perceptions of crime vulnerability were found to have a positive impact on fear of crime victimization in both groups. Second, neighborhood relations were found to have a significant positive effect on the fear of crime victimization in the non-disabled group. Lastly, neighborhood participation did not have a substantial effect on either group. These findings suggest that irrespective of disability status, perceptions of crime vulnerability significantly influence fear of crime victimization. At the same time, neighborhood relations are a significant factor only for the non-disabled group. Policy implications related to these findings are discussed.