Gs. Hernandez et al., PERCEIVED INSECURITY, EVITATION CONDUCTS AND SELF-PROTECTION OF WOMENLIVING IN URBAN ZONES - CONSTRUCTION AND VALIDATION OF SCALES, Salud mental, 19(1), 1996, pp. 27-34
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.