Factors associated with students' perceptions of campus safety and security at UiTM Kota Bharu
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.118778Keywords:
campus environment, campus lighting, campus safety, multiple linear regression, security, university studentsAbstract
Campus safety affects students’ well-being, participation, and confidence in higher education. This study examined gender differences and factors associated with students’ perceptions of campus safety and security at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Kota Bharu. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 309 undergraduate students selected proportionately by gender from a population of 1,037 students. Data were collected through a bilingual self-administered questionnaire using 10-point Likert scales. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha, gender differences with an independent samples t-test, bivariate relationship with Pearson correlation, and associated factors with stepwise multiple linear regression. Female students reported a slightly higher in mean safety and security perception than male students, but the difference was not statistically significant (t = -0.799, p = .425). Perception safety and security correlated positively with students’ sense of community (r = .663), campus environment (r = .813), campus lighting (r = .765), attitudes and behaviours of campus security (r = .736), and campus crime concern (r = .159). The final model retained campus environment and campus lighting, explaining 71.1% of the variance in perception safety and security (adjusted R² = .709), F(2,306) = 376.603, p < .001. The findings support environmental maintenance and adequate lighting as practical priorities for campus safety and security.
Downloads
References
Azevedo, V., Nunes, L. M., & Sani, A. (2022). Is campus a place of (in)security and crime? Perceptions and predictors among higher education students. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 12(2), 193–208. https://doi.org/10.3390/ejihpe12020015
Braaten, C. N., Tsai, L. C., & Vaughn, M. S. (2022). Student perceptions of campus safety: Testing the vulnerability and disorder models. Security Journal, 35(1), 59–81. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41284-020-00263-1
Ekpoh, U. I., Edet, A. O., & Ukpong, N. N. (2020). Security challenges in universities: Implications for safe school environment. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 10(6), 112–124. https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2020-0113
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Kang, H. (2013). The prevention and handling of missing data. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 64(5), 402–406. https://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2013.64.5.402
Kim, H.-Y. (2013). Statistical notes for clinical researchers: Assessing normal distribution (2) using skewness and kurtosis. Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics, 38(1), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2013.38.1.52
Lane, J., Gover, A. R., & Dahod, S. (2009). Fear of violent crime among men and women on campus: The impact of perceived risk and fear of sexual assault. Violence and Victims, 24(2), 172–192. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.24.2.172
Lekganyane, J. K., Maluleke, W., & Barkhuizen, J. (2023). Exploring perceptions of students on safety and security from selected South African historically disadvantaged institutions. ScienceRise: Juridical Science, 4(26), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.15587/2523-4153.2023.287470
Morrison, S., & Mensah, A. C. (2021). Students’ perception of campus safety and security at Accra Technical University, Ghana. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.24940/theijhss/2021/v9/i4/HS2104-008
Owusu, G., Akoto, J., & Abnory, M. (2016). Is our safety and security guaranteed on University of Cape Coast campus? Undergraduate students’ perceptions. International Journal of Higher Education, 5(4), 75–85. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v5n4p75
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J.-Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879–903. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.88.5.879
Prihatiningrum, A., Ramawangsa, P. A., & Seftyarizki, D. (2021). Artificial lighting strategies on campus pedestrian path in increasing the safety of walking at night: A case study of the University of Bengkulu. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 738(1), Article 012042. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012042
Savolainen, T. (2023). A safe learning environment from the perspective of university safety, security, and risk management students and staff. Heliyon, 9(3), Article e12836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12836
Shariati, A., & Guerette, R. T. (2019). Resident students’ perception of safety in on-campus residential facilities: Does crime prevention through environmental design make a difference? Journal of School Violence, 18(4), 570–584. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2019.1617721
Zeng, X., Zhang, B., Chen, S., Lin, Y., & Haans, A. (2025). Exploring the impact of daytime and nighttime campus lighting on emotional responses and perceived restorativeness. Buildings, 15(6), Article 872. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15060872
