The study compares research reports about criminal victimization as a stres
sful experience between United States and Czech Republic. Authors examine t
he process by which criminal. victimization affects well-being of Czech pop
ulation by adding, stress appraisal (perceived risk; and fear of crime), be
havioral adjustments (protection and avoidance), as well as controls to tes
ted models. The sample is 703 families in the second wave of a three-year (
1994 - 1996) panel study. Criminal victimization resulted in distress net o
f controls. For women. appraisal intervened between their victimization and
distress by increasing the latter. For men, the behavioral adjustment inte
nvened between victimization and distress. Protection reduced their depress
ion while avoidance Increased it: and their anxiety. The effects of crimina
l victimization on distress are direct and indirect and vary by gender inte
rpretations of results rest on the meaning of fear of crime, protection and
avoidance for Czech man and women.