“I Was Born in the Hood”: Fear of Crime, Outdoor Recreation and Physical Activity Among Mexican-American Urban Adolescents

Abstract

The study examines how perceptions of crime affect outdoor recreation and physical activity among Mexican-American youth of different ages and how Mexican-American youth negotiate constraints related to fear of crime. Theories of environmental stress and human territorial functioning theory are used to frame the findings of the study. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 Mexican-American adolescents ages 11–18 residing in Chicago, Illinois. The findings show that crime prevents youth from visiting parks or places that require crossing gang boundaries, and that fear restricts participation in outdoor recreation. Activities that take place in the vicinity of homes and on school property during school hours, as well as activities that are organized and supervised by adults, are considered safer than unorganized and unsupervised activities. Adolescents use negotiation strategies to foster their participation in outdoor recreation and physical activity.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• crime
• Mexican-Americans
• outdoor recreation
• physical activity
• safety

Acknowledgments

This study has been funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Salud America! Program.