Guardianship in action among Brisbane suburban residents: environmental facilitators of guardianship intensity and the influence of living in a Queenslander

Abstract

Using data collected from observations made of 279 properties located in two homogeneous Brisbane neighbourhoods, the current study examines guardianship intensity among Australian suburban residents. Comparisons between findings from similar studies conducted in The Hague (the Netherlands) and two U.S. cities suggest that some guardianship behaviours observed in Brisbane are unique to the suburban context. Furthermore, results from the current investigation reveal that certain physical and situational characteristics of Brisbane suburban neighbourhoods (i.e. surveillance opportunities, territoriality and accessibility) are significantly associated with residents’ guardianship intensity. Finally, current findings reveal that differences in guardianship intensity among neighbourhood residents do not vary by the type of housing commonly found in the Brisbane suburban context (i.e. the Queenslander). A discussion of the theoretical and policy implications of the current investigation is offered.