Psychometric evaluation of the Turkish version of the Fear of Crime Scale

Crime is a multidimensional phenomenon that threatens social order and varies across contexts. In Türkiye, crime patterns and their changes over time play a key role in shaping fear of crime. However, measurement tools that directly and multidimensionally assess fear of crime in the Turkish context remain limited.

This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Fear of Crime Scale.

The sample of this cross-sectional methodological study consisted of 849 adult individuals living in Turkey who met the inclusion criteria. Content validity was assessed using the Content Validity Index based on the Davis technique. Construct validity was examined through confirmatory factor analysis, and convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated using Pearson correlation analyses. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, item-total correlations, and test-retest methods.

The overall Content Validity Index value was 0.981, and item-level CVI values ranged between 0.86 and 1.00. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the original single-factor structure with 10 items; standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.717 to 0.919. Model fit indices were determined as χ²/df = 4.90, GFI = 0.92, AGFI = 0.87, RMSEA = 0.08, IFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.93, NFI = 0.91, and SRMR = 0.05; AVE and CR values were calculated as 0.69 and 0.95, respectively. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.94, and item-total correlations ranged from 0.616 to 0.842. In convergent and discriminant validity analyses, the scale showed a positive correlation with the Fear of Crime Scale (r = 0.532, p < 0.001) and a significant negative correlation with the Life Satisfaction Scale (r = - 0.240, p = 0.041). Test-retest reliability was calculated as ICC = 0.927 (95% CI: 0.901-0.960, p < 0.001).

The findings indicate that the Turkish Fear of Crime Scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing fear of crime among adult individuals.