Survey: Millennials Have Extreme Anxiety About Physical Safety
The survey found that in the last 12 months, 34 percent of millennials avoided crowded spaces and 30 percent avoided public transportation.
The survey found that 76 percent of Millennials have avoided an activity due to safety concerns.
The results from a recent survey show that Millennials are experiencing extreme anxiety regarding their physical safety.
The survey, led by ADT, included 1,000 American adults, ages 18 to 32 and was conducted from March 31 to April 5. The respondents were sent the survey through email.
The survey found that 76 percent of Millennials have avoided an activity due to safety concerns.
Of that percentage, in the past 12 months alone, 34 percent said they have avoided crowded spaces such as malls, 30 percent have avoided public transportation, 26 percent have avoided traveling alone, and 25 percent have avoided exercising alone.
Most have even gone beyond avoiding large public spaces, with 90 percent saying they have taken a different route home, changed the time and place of their exercise routine, or now carry pepper spray.
Personal Devices Provide Sense of Safety
The survey also found that many Millennials view their personal devices, such as smartphones, as protection from physical harm. The results indicated:
- 90 percent feel safe when alone if they have their personal device
- 94 percent of women depend on their mobile devices for safety
- 85 percent of men depend on their mobile devices for safety
Although it seems Millennials are comforted by a level of protection provided by their personal devices, 75 percent said they are interested in purchasing an additional personal security device.
The survey also broke down the 1,000 Millennials by their place of residence, both by region and type of neighborhood.
Of the Millennials surveyed that live in urban areas, 79 percent are concerned about their safety and 91 percent perceive technology as a safety net.
Comparatively, of those living in rural areas, 68 percent are concerned about safety and 82 percent think of technology as a safety net.
The respondents were also broken down by region, indicating that 30 percent of Millennials who live in the West have avoided exercising alone while only 20 percent of those living in the Northeast reported doing so.
Check out the slideshow to see all of the above statistics at a glance.
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About the Author
Amy Rock, Executive Editor
Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.
Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.
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