Understanding learned helplessness: The role of fear of crime and social support

Learned helplessness can significantly impact mental health and wellbeing, and understanding its predictors and buffers is key for developing effective recognition and intervention programs. This study examined the predictive role of fear of crime and perceived interpersonal social support (ISS) in learned helplessness. Results showed that fear of crime was positively associated with learned helplessness, while perceived ISS was negatively associated with it. However, perceived ISS did not moderate the relationship between fear of crime and learned helplessness. These findings highlight the independent roles of fear of crime and social support in learned helplessness. Implications of the findings are discussed.