TY - JOUR T1 - Fear of Crime in Traffic: An Analysis of Gender-Based Perceptual Differences in the Case of İzmir TT - Trafikte Suç Korkusu: İzmir Örneğinde Cinsiyete Dayalı Algı Farklılıklarının Analizi AU - Kavsıracı, Ozan AU - Demirbaş, Mehmet AU - Çelik, Abdullah AU - Akıncıoğlu, Niyazi Umut AU - Peker, Hasan Sencer PY - 2025 DA - September Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.26466/opusjsr.1741867 JF - OPUS Journal of Society Research JO - OPUS JSR PB - İdeal Kent Yayınları WT - DergiPark SN - 2791-9862 SP - 1133 EP - 1145 VL - 22 IS - 5 LA - en AB - This study examines gender differences in fear of crime within traffic settings. To address the scarcity of traffic-specific research, we developed a 26-item Fear of Crime in Traffic Scale and surveyed 1,505 active drivers in İzmir (768 women; 737 men) using purposive and quota sampling. Exploratory factor analysis supported a three-factor structure—Perceived Individual Insecurity in Traffic, Fear Related to Vehicle Types, and Spatio-Temporal Perceptions of Safety—explaining 79.19% of the variance (KMO = .973; Bartlett p < .001). Reliability was high for the total scale (α = .96) and strong across subdimensions (α = .95, .90, .88). Given non-normal distributions, gender comparisons employed Mann–Whitney U tests. No significant gender differences emerged for Perceived Individual Insecurity (U = 271,314, z = −1.388, p = .165) or Spatio-Temporal Perceptions of Safety (U = 273,649, z = −1.118, p = .265). However, men scored higher on Fear Related to Vehicle Types (U = 250,234, z = −3.919, p < .001, r = .101). Item-level patterns indicate women report greater concern about sexual harassment and verbal abuse, while men report higher concerns tied to public/heavy vehicles and the perceived effectiveness of enforcement. These results nuance the gender–fear literature by showing that, in “mobile public spaces” like traffic, gendered threat perceptions vary by subdimension. The findings inform transportation safety by highlighting the need for gender-sensitive interventions that address both interpersonal risks and vehicle/structural risks. KW - Fear of Crime KW - Gender KW - Traffic Safety KW - Driver Perception KW - Scale Development N2 - Bu çalışma, trafikte suç korkusuna ilişkin cinsiyet farklılıklarını incelemektedir. Trafik bağlamına özgü araştırma eksikliğini gidermek üzere 26 maddelik Trafikte Suç Korkusu Ölçeği geliştirilmiş ve İzmir’de aktif sürücülük yapan 1.505 kişi (768 kadın; 737 erkek) amaçlı ve kota örnekleme ile ulaşılarak araştırmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Açımlayıcı faktör analizi üç faktörlü yapıyı doğrulamıştır: Trafikte Algılanan Bireysel Güvensizlik, Araç Türlerine Bağlı Korku ve Zamansal-Mekânsal Güvenlik Algıları. Üç faktör toplam varyansın %79,19’unu açıklamıştır (KMO = ,973; Bartlett p < ,001). Ölçeğin tümünde (α = ,96) ve alt boyutlarında (α = ,95; ,90; ,88) güvenirlik yüksektir. Dağılımlar normal olmadığından cinsiyet karşılaştırmalarında Mann–Whitney U testi kullanılmıştır. Algılanan Bireysel Güvensizlik (U = 271.314, z = −1,388, p = ,165) ve Zamansal-Mekânsal Güvenlik Algıları (U = 273.649, z = −1,118, p = ,265) için anlamlı fark bulunmamıştır. Buna karşılık, Araç Türlerine Bağlı Korku alt boyutunda erkeklerin puanları daha yüksektir (U = 250.234, z = −3,919, p < ,001, r = ,101). Madde düzeyinde kadınlar cinsel taciz ve sözlü saldırı kaygılarını daha fazla bildirirken, erkekler kamu/ağır vasıtalar ve yaptırım-denetimin etkililiğine ilişkin kaygılarda daha yüksek puanlar vermiştir. 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