Testing the relative importance of contemporaneous offenses: The impacts of fear of sexual assault versus fear of physical harm among men and women

PurposeThe current study tests the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis and extends recent research by examining whether the fear of physical harm or the fear of sexual assault has a greater impact on fear of other crimes.MethodsTo determine the unique interaction between gender and fear, we conduct separate analyses among men and women.ResultsWhile fear of physical harm and fear of sexual intrusion are both predictive of fear of home invasion, robbery, and murder, fear of physical harm has a significantly greater impact across all types of fear (e.g., home invasion, robbery, murder).ConclusionsDespite previous empirical evidence that suggests fear operates differently among men and women, our findings suggest that fear of physical harm – rather than fear of sexual intrusion – is a more robust predictor of fear of crime among both men and women.

► We test the impact of fear of physical harm on fear of violent crime. ► We test the impact of fear of sexual assault on fear of violent crime. ► Both types of fear are predictive of fear of home invasion, robbery, and murder. ► Fear of physical harm had a greater impact on fear of violent crime. ► Men and women are very similar in terms of what drives their fear of crime.