Gender Differences in Health Beliefs Concerning Violent Victimization by Strangers

ABSTRACT

We examined gender differences in perceptions of violent victimization committed by strangers. Two-hundred and fourteen persons aged 18–24 were sampled. A 45-item questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) was developed by the authors. Results of a series of independent t-tests revealed significant gender differences on three of the four HBM constructs. Results indicated that although a higher percentage of male respondents had been the victim of a violent crime, females felt more vulnerable to violent crime and perceived there to be fewer barriers to preventing violent crime. Implications for health educators are discussed.