PERCEIVED INSECURITY, EVITATION CONDUCTS AND SELF-PROTECTION OF WOMENLIVING IN URBAN ZONES - CONSTRUCTION AND VALIDATION OF SCALES

This report presents the factor analysis carried out in three differen t scales: perceived insecurity and the practice o precautionary behavi ors such as avoiding and self-protective behaviors. This study only co nsiders 321 female respondents from a total sample of 600 subjects who participated in a wider research. In the perceived insecurity case th e result showed two conceptually congrous dimensions: to feel insecure In public places (proportional to = .77) and to feel insecure alone a nd in the dark (proportional to = .54). Precautionary behaviors: stree ts strategies (proportional to = .76) and limited life styles (proport ional to = .57). Finally, self-protective behaviors scale was grouped around a single factor (proportional to = .53). The averages shed by s ample showed that to feel insecure in public places, to feel insecure alone and in dark places, street strategies and limited life style wer e prevalent.