Perception of crime in the neighborhood: gender differences in adolescents from Baja California, Mexico

Authors

  • Anel Hortensia Gómez San Luis Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Ariagor Manuel Almanza Avendaño Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
  • Armando Anuar Figueroa Estrada Departamento de Investigación, Instituto de Psiquiatría del Estado de Baja California

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29059/rpcc.20250601-196

Abstract

The study describes the perception of crime in the neighborhood and analyzes gender differences in middle school and high school students from various municipalities in the state of Baja California. The sample consisted of 2246 students (51.9% women and 48.1% men), in an age range of 12 to 18 years. A secondary analysis of the 2023 State Survey for Adolescents of the state of Baja California was conducted. A non-experimental cross-sectional comparative design was used. The main crimes and incivilities perceived in their neighborhoods were drug use in public places (51.3%), street fights (48.6%) and assault in public places (43.1%). The general perception of crime was higher in adolescent girls (d = 0.27). The main differences were found in sexual harassment (f = 0.23), disappearance of children (f = 0.17) and adolescents (f = 0.15). It is concluded that young people's perception of crime partially corresponds to official records, but there is a gender bias that increases for sexual and violent crimes.

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Published

2025-06-01

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 1 (2025): Enero-Junio

Section

Investigación empírica y análisis teórico

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