Könsperspektiv på sambandet mellan tidigare brottsutsatthet och otrygghet för brott : En kvantitativ analys av brottsutsatthetens konsekvenser

With the increasing feelings of unsafety in Sweden and a varying crime trend, it is of interest to investigate how previous exposure to crime affects individuals' perceived unsafety of crime. This study investigates the relationship between prior victimization and perceived unsafety of crime, with a focus on gender differences and the influence of specific types of victimization. Previous research has shown that prior victimization is a key predictor for unsafety of crime and emphasizes gendered differences in experiences of unsafety. Using data from the Swedish National Crime Survey (NTU) 2021, a quantitative analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression analysis to explore the relationship between prior victimization and unsafety of crime among 58,605 respondents. The dependent variable, unsafety of crime, was operationalized as an index measuring various dimensions of crime-related anxiety, while independent variables included prior victimization, types of victimization, gender and age. The results showed that prior victimization correlates positively with higher unsafety of crime, with notable differences based on gender and the type of prior victimization experienced. Prior sexual assault was the type of singular victimization that explained unsafety of crime in greatest extent for women, while for men it was sexual assault, violent crimes and threats. Polyvictimization was strongly associated with increased unsafety, surpassing the effects of singular victimization types for both genders. Prior victimization explained men's unsafety of crime to a greater extent than women’s. There was no unambiguous result regarding the different age groups. These findings are discussed within the frameworks of social learning theory and gender theory, highlighting the interplay between societal norms, learned behaviors, and structural inequalities in shaping perceptions of unsafety and vulnerability.