Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Criminal Victimization in University Students in Three Mexican Cities

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of criminal victimization experiences and associated sociodemographic factors among university students from three Mexican cities: Chihuahua, Guadalajara and Puebla. Method. A non-random sample involved 2532 students from different majors through a descriptive and correlational study. The battery of the Survey on Democracy, Social Tissue and Human Security was applied electronically, which considers 16 forms of victimization that occurred in the last six months. Results. Differences of victimization were found between cities and by sex. Notably, in women, a lower socioeconomic level was associated with more sexual victimization, harassment and persecution. In men at a higher socioeconomic level, less family experiences of suicide or disappearances, injuries in road accidents and payment for public procedures. More experiences of victimization were associated with greater willingness to change places of residence or work, especially for women. Conclusion. Greater criminal victimization is associated with less willingness to stay in the current city of residence. The socioeconomic level appears as a protection factor (high level) or risk (low level) in relation to victimization.