University of Hildesheim, Germany.
Bundeswehr University Munich, Germany.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2018 Sep 20;73(7):1224-1232. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbw169.
Research on fear of crime (FOC) in adulthood has often shown a positive age relation, whereas the risk of criminal victimization decreases with age. The present study distinguishes three dimensions of FOC (affective, cognitive, and behavioral component) and attempts to investigate possible explanations for differential age correlations by referring to processes of adaptation and resilience. In particular, the functionality of FOC and its impact on the individual's well-being is assumed to be influenced by the individual's capacity to accommodate to adverse circumstances.
These hypotheses are investigated within a cross-sectional assessment using questionnaire data (1,792 participants between 18 and 98 years of age).
As predicted, age was a strong predictor of the behavioral but not affective and cognitive component of FOC. In particular, the results support a twofold adaptive function of accommodation: Accommodation facilitates cautious behavior with increasing age and, at the same time, dampens the impact of FOC on depressivity.
The adaptive role of cautious behavior in advanced age and accommodation is discussed within a developmental regulation framework.
成人期犯罪恐惧（FOC）的研究经常显示出积极的年龄关系，而犯罪受害风险随着年龄的增长而降低。本研究区分了 FOC 的三个维度（情感、认知和行为成分），并试图通过参考适应和恢复力的过程来探讨导致不同年龄相关性的可能解释。特别是，FOC 的功能及其对个体幸福感的影响被假设受到个体适应不利环境能力的影响。
这些假设是在使用问卷调查数据（18 至 98 岁之间的 1792 名参与者）进行的横断面评估中进行调查的。
正如预测的那样，年龄是 FOC 的行为但不是情感和认知成分的强预测因子。具体而言，结果支持适应的双重适应性功能：适应随着年龄的增长促进谨慎行为，同时减轻 FOC 对抑郁的影响。
在发展调节框架内讨论了谨慎行为在老年期的适应性作用和适应能力。
