Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The central aim of the study was to investigate the relationships between exposure to violent crime, \ntraumatic stress symptomatology, and fear of crime. Secondary areas of interest included the effect of \nthe frequency of exposure to violent crime on traumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime, as \nwell as sex differences in the three main variables of study. In order to explore these aims, a \nquantitative cross-sectional research design was used. Measures included a self-developed exposure \nmeasure, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and a fear of crime measure used in a previous South \nAfrican study. The sample was comprised of 216 first-year university students at the University of the \nWitwatersrand in Johannesburg. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s \ncorrelations, t-tests, and analysis of variance (one-way and two-way) and post-hoc t-tests. \nThe results of the research indicated high levels of exposure to violent crime (including direct and \nindirect exposure). Almost half the sample (47%) reported exposure to violent crime in the preceding \n12 months. Furthermore, over half the sample (58%) reported direct exposure to non-crime trauma in \nthe preceding 12 months, with only about one-quarter of the sample (20%) reporting no exposure to \nany kind of trauma in the preceding 12 months. It was thus unsurprising that levels of traumatic stress \nsymptomatology were generally in the moderate range and at least 20% of the total sample reported \ntraumatic stress symptomatology of clinical concern. Fear of crime was found to be rather pervasive in \nthe sample. Findings showed support for the relationships between exposure to violent crime and \ntraumatic stress symptomatology, exposure to violent crime and fear of crime, and fear of crime and \ntraumatic stress symptomatology. Significant differences were found between groups based on level \nand type of exposure and significant correlations were found between the perceived severity of \nexposure to violent crime on the one hand, and traumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime on \nthe other hand. Frequency of exposure to violent crime was found to be significantly related to fear of \ncrime but not to traumatic stress symptomatology. Female subjects reported significantly higher \nperceived severity of exposure to violent crime, hyperarousal related symptoms and fear of crime. The \nimplications of the findings are explored.
Author: Sarah-Kate Engelbrecht
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2162389217