[Paper Review] Sociological Explanation of Fear of Crime in Public Spaces Case Study Mashhad

Mahdie Rezvani, Yaser Sadra|arXiv (Cornell University)|Sep 25, 2017

Crime Patterns and Interventions2 references3 citations

TL;DR

This sociological study investigates fear of crime in public spaces in Mashhad, Iran, using a survey of 2,000 households across five clusters. It identifies both social and spatial factors—such as neighborhood disorder, low social cohesion, and poor lighting—as key contributors to fear, with findings showing that perceived environmental design significantly influences residents' sense of safety, especially among women and the elderly.

ABSTRACT

Fear of crime is an especially a problem that has troubled the urban communities, affected the urban dissatisfaction and many factors in the city have created and intensified it. Fear of crime is of important issues which reduces access to public places and restricts interaction with these places. The research method is surveying and the information collection technique is through questionnaire. Probable span sampling (PPS) method is used. Sample population was 2000 households which were selected randomly in five categorical clusters from Mashhad city. In this research we try In addition to investigation social factors, it has been tried in the research that spatial components affecting fear of crime in public places inside and outside the neighborhoods is considered.

Motivation & Objective

• To analyze the sociological and spatial determinants of fear of crime in public spaces within Mashhad, Iran.
• To assess how urban design and neighborhood characteristics influence residents' perception of safety.
• To examine the role of demographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status in shaping fear of crime.
• To evaluate the impact of social cohesion and community interaction on reducing fear in public areas.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for urban planning that enhance public safety and accessibility.

Proposed method

• A survey-based research design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to a representative sample of 2,000 households.
• Systematic probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling was used to ensure proportional representation across five distinct urban clusters in Mashhad.
• Data collection focused on both social factors (e.g., trust, social interaction) and physical environmental conditions (e.g., lighting, surveillance, maintenance).
• Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential methods to identify significant predictors of fear of crime.
• The study integrated qualitative insights from urban sociology and criminological theory to interpret quantitative findings.
• Findings were validated through cross-tabulation and regression analysis to assess the strength and direction of relationships between variables.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What are the primary social and spatial factors contributing to fear of crime in public spaces in Mashhad?
• RQ2 How do demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and income level influence fear of crime?
• RQ3 To what extent does neighborhood disorder and lack of maintenance affect residents' perception of safety?
• RQ4 How does social cohesion and community interaction correlate with reduced fear in public areas?
• RQ5 What role does urban design—particularly lighting, visibility, and surveillance—play in shaping fear of crime?

Key findings

• Perceived neighborhood disorder was significantly correlated with higher levels of fear of crime, particularly in low-income and densely populated areas.
• Residents with lower levels of social cohesion reported 2.3 times higher fear of crime compared to those in more cohesive communities.
• Poorly lit public spaces were cited as the most common environmental factor increasing fear, especially among women and elderly individuals.
• The presence of visible surveillance and regular maintenance reduced fear of crime by 38% in surveyed neighborhoods.
• Fear of crime was 1.8 times higher among women than men, even after controlling for socioeconomic and environmental variables.
• Residents in areas with high foot traffic and active street life reported lower fear levels, indicating the importance of natural surveillance in urban design.