Fear of Crime and Perceived Police Effectiveness in Gasan, Marinduque, Philippines

Abstract

Among residents of Gasan, Marinduque (N = 284), women reported significantly higher fear of crime than men (t = 9.66, p < 0.001), and older respondents (especially 65+) had the highest fear scores, while those 45–54 had the lowest. Utilizing a structured Likert-scale survey instrument, the research assessed five domains of fear—online scams, public robbery, burglary, sexual harassment, and molestation—and 14 indicators of police performance. Descriptive analysis revealed that the mean fear score across all items was 2.74, indicating a general state of concern categorized as "Worried." The highest fear was related to online scams (M = 2.84), while the lowest was molestation or sexual abuse at home (M = 2.64). Inferential statistics confirmed significant demographic differences in fear perception. Analyzing average fear scores with an independent sample t-test revealed that females had a greater fear average (M = 2.89) than males (M = 2.48), t(198) = 9.66, p < .001. A one-way ANOVA found a significant difference in fear by age categories, F(5, 174) = ∞, p < .001. Respondents aged 65 and above expressed the greatest level of concern (M = 3.40), while those in the 45–54 age range reported the lowest (M = 2.29). A subsequent Levene’s test confirmed significantly higher variance in fear of molestation among younger respondents aged 15–24 (F = 4.16, p < .05). Perceived police effectiveness was a significant predictor of fear of crime scores, F(1, 282) = 21.7, p < .001, R² = 0.13. The negative beta coefficient (β = –0.36, p < .001) suggests that greater trust in police was associated with reduced fear. Findings support the hypothesis that gender and age are salient predictors of fear, and institutional trust inversely correlates with perceived risk. The study’s conclusion is that proactive strategies aimed at specific populations—especially women and older adults—increase police visibility and responsiveness would effectively reduce fear in rural areas.