Household Guardians: A Multilevel Analysis of Household-Level Guardianship and Individual-Level Victimization Risks

Abstract

Guardianship is a multidimensional concept that influences the risk of victimization. However, the influence of the household—central to people’s routines—has been overlooked. Using data from the NCVS (2017–2022), this study employs a multilevel analysis of household guardianship to investigate residents’ risk of violent victimization and domestic violence, controlling for individual-level factors. Living in single-unit households, marriage, and owning a home reduce the risk of violent victimization. Conversely, owning a business and residing in urban areas increase this risk. For domestic violence, living in single-unit households increases the risk, whereas gated communities lower the risk. Implications for crime prevention and future directions on guardianship are discussed.

Keywords

victimization guardianship household National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)vulnerability

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