The situational relationship between age and the fear of crime

It is commonly accepted that there is a positive relationship between age and the fear of crime, although there is some indication that this may not hold under all conditions. Most studies concerning fear of crime have been based upon questions involving fear of walking alone within one's neighborhood. This study examined fear of crime both in the relative danger of walking in the neighborhood and in the safety of one's home. Age was found to be positively associated with fear of crime in the former situation, but slightly negatively associated in the latter. It was suggested that the aged may only be more fearful of crime in particularly dangerous situations, and that there is a need for fear of crime measures with greater content validity.