Residential burglary : factors related to its psychological impact on female victims

This thesis reviews the theoretical and research literature pertaining to the nature of burglary's impact on victims and why this differs between individuals. Primarily it aims to identify factors which are and are not related to severity of residential burglary's psychological impact on victims. To meet this aim, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 102 adult females, burgled 8-11 weeks prior to assessment. As well as an unstructured interview concerned with immediate reactions to the burglary, purpose-developed likert-type scales were administered to respondents, assessing burglary's psychological impact on victims in terms of immediate and long­ term emotional reactions, cognitive intrusiveness, changes in security behaviour, loss of trust and perceptions of violation. Information was also collected from victims regarding various characteristics of themselves and their burglary. Upon analysis, event characteristics, and particularly disarrangement and sentimental and monetary value of losses emerged as the best predictors of victim reaction. Victim age, insurance status, level of social support and history of burglary also had some relationship to reported reaction intensity. Theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, drawing largely on theoretical work concerning the meaning. of property. Limitations of the current research and directions for future research are also discussed. Lastly, practical implications of the findings for police and victim support are outlined