Criminal victimization and distress in the Czech Republic

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.