Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Sociology
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Research on fear of crime and perceptions of safety on college campuses has grown over the past few decades, though it remains less studied than the broader fear of crime literature. The existing literature suggest that most college students do not report high levels of fear, yet those who identify as female, Black, priorly victimized and younger are more likely to experience fear. Gender is the most consistent predictor of campus fear, with college women reporting higher levels of fear than men.
Fear of crime and perceptions of safety on college campuses carry significant implications for student well-being and institutional policy, yet little research has examined urban universities located in high-crime cities. This dissertation addresses the gap through a mixed methods approach of fear of crime and perceived safety among 350 students at Louisiana State University. Data was collected through an online survey administered in the Spring 2025 semester and analyzed using logistic regression methods alongside thematic analysis of open-ended qualitative responses.
This study found fear on campus was significantly predicted by vicarious victimization, prior crime anxiety, family crime worry, perception of safety on campus and perceptions of alcohol and drug use problems on campus. These findings suggest that campus fear is shaped by social relationships, prior perceptions and interpretations of campus conditions. Examination of constrained behaviors revealed that carrying mace, considering safety when scheduling, and using the buddy system are driven by gender, Greek life membership and vicarious victimization. Together this mixed method approach reveal that students on college campuses experience fear through a variety of means.
Date
7-10-2026
Recommended Citation
Adcox, Windsor K., "Fear and Perceptions of Safety on Louisiana State University's Campus" (2026). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 7116.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/7116
Committee Chair
Shihadeh, Edward
LSU Acknowledgement
1
LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment
1