Examining fear of crime among Macao residents: Vulnerability,victimisation and situational factors

Abstract

This study examines fear of crime among residents of Macao using data from the 2022 Macao Victimisation Survey. Fear of crime is conceptualised as a multidimensional construct encompassing affective, cognitive and behavioural components. Analyses are based on regression models incorporating vulnerability, victimisation and situational factors. The study also assesses whether situational variables moderate the relationship between victimisation and fear of crime. Findings reveal both consistencies and deviations from prior research. Contrary to established studies, age and gender do not significantly influence fear of crime. However, the victimisation model remains robust, indicating that victimisation experiences are significantly associated with heightened fear. Community disorder and perceived crime rates are found to affect specific dimensions of fear of crime. Notably, situational variables do not exhibit statistically significant moderating effects on the relationship between victimisation and fear of crime. By offering contextual insights from Macao, an East Asian city with distinct socioeconomic and structural dynamics, this study contributes to the broader criminological discourse on fear of crime and highlights the need for a locally grounded theoretical framework.