The effect of social welfare, emotions and negative perception of the world on fear of crime in Mexico

Abstract

In Mexico, insecurity and fear of crime had been affected Mexican’s society historically. However, research has focused on comprehend the causes society attributes to both phenomena increasing and a little has been explored about the relationship those variables can have with concepts like social well-being. This study aims to know about the effect social well-being (and his dimensions), emotions (positive and negative) and negative perception of the world have on the fear of crime. A sample of 152 young students (55.3% women and 44.7% men) with a mean age of 25.56 years (SD= 3.30) participated in this research. Results showed that fear of crime has configurated as a problem itself and affects society in a differential way. Consequently, high levels of social well-being diminish worry about fear of crime. In opposition, high levels of negative perception of the world and of negative feelings, including low levels of social well-being and positive emotions promote higher levels of worry about fear of crime.