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Living Conditions of Children 2016–2017:

Boys feel safer than girls in their neighbourhood

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2018-05-29 9.30

More boys than girls feel safe at night in the area where they live. Six out of ten boys, compared to four out of ten girls aged 12–18 years have answered that they feel very safe.

The Living Conditions Survey of Children shows that it is more common for boys than for girls to feel safe at night in their neighbourhood. Among children aged 12–18 years, six out of ten boys answered that they feel very safe at night in their neighbourhood, compared to four out of ten girls. When children who answered that they feel fairly safe are included, the proportion rises to nine out of ten boys and eight out of ten girls. The remaining children, one out of ten boys and two out of ten girls, do not feel safe at night in their neighbourhood.

Safer in daytime than at night

It is more common for children to feel safe in the area where they live in the daytime than at night. Eight out of ten children – both boys and girls – feel very safe in their neighbourhood in the daytime. When children who feel fairly safe are included, this essentially comprises all children (99 percent).

Children aged 12–18 years who feel very safe in their neighbourhood in the daytime and at night, 2016–2017. Percent

Diagram

Source: Living Conditions Survey of Children, Statistics Sweden

Many reasons to feel unsafe

There may be a variety of factors that contribute to feelings of insecurity. For example, one out of four children mention that there are certain people in their neighbourhood that they wish to avoid. In addition, 17 percent of the children have answered that there are other children and young people whom they wish to avoid, while 14 percent have answered that there are adults whom they wish to avoid. Among the older young people, aged 16–18 years, it is more common for girls than for boys to want to avoid certain adults in their neighbourhood (22 percent of the girls, 9 percent of the boys).

In school, it is also more common for boys than for girls to feel safe. Eight out of ten boys and seven out of ten girls have answered that they feel very safe on their way to and from school. The feeling of security increases in the classroom, where nine out of ten boys and eight out of ten girls have answered that they feel very safe. With regard to the feeling of safety during the breaks, there is not difference between boys and girls, and eight out of ten children answered that they feel very safe.

Definitions and explanations

These statistics are based on Living Conditions Survey of Children, which includes children aged 12–18 years. This is a unique survey, as the children themselves have answered questions about their daily life, which spans a wide range of areas. The presented information refers to 2016–2017.

Indicators on safety in your neighbourhood, in daytime and at night

The indicators include the answers [Very safe] and [Very safe or fairly safe] to the following questions:

  • How safe do you feel outdoors in your neighbourhood, in the daytime?
  • How safe do you feel outdoors in your neighbourhood, at night?

(The three answer alternatives to these questions are: Very safe, Fairly safe and Not so safe.)

Indicators on wanting to avoid others

The indicators include the answer [Yes] to the following questions:

  • If you consider your neighbourhood, are there other children or young people that you wish to avoid?
  • If you consider your neighbourhood, are there adults that you wish to avoid?

Indicators on feeling safe in the classroom, during breaks, to/from school

Includes three indicators that include the answers [Very safe] and [Very safe or fairly safe] to the following questions:

  • How safe to you feel in the classroom?
  • How safe do you feel during breaks at school?
  • How safe do you feel on your way to and from school?

(The three answer alternatives to these questions are: Very safe, Fairly safe and Not so safe.)

Statistically significant differences

The differences described in the text above are statistically significant. In the figure, the uncertainty interval is shown as a line, indicating the lowest and highest values in the interval, while the bars show the estimated value.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Living Conditions and Democracy Section

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