A Predictive Framework for Understanding is the central topic of this scientific publication.
Abstract
This study investigates and forecasts multidimensional security perceptions among Serbian university students, who are a particularly engaged and vulnerable demographic in transitional societies. It examines how demographic traits, socio-economic status, and levels of institutional trust and engagement shape students’ evaluations of security in everyday life. The study examines six primary dimensions of security perception: personal safety, safety at public events and demonstrations, perceived national threats, digital security and privacy, perception of emergencies and crises, and trust in institutions and security policies. A structured online survey was administered to a sample of 406 university students selected through non-probability purposive sampling from major academic centres in Serbia, including Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, and Kragujevac. The questionnaire, based on a five-point Likert scale, was designed to measure levels of agreement across the six dimensions. Data were analysed using multiple regression, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and independent samples t-tests. All necessary statistical assumptions were met, ensuring the reliability and validity of the results. Descriptive statistics indicated moderate to moderately high overall perceived safety, with personal safety scoring the highest, followed by digital security and disaster preparedness. Lower scores were recorded for public event safety, perceived national threats, and, in particular, trust in institutional security policies. Regression analysis revealed that key predictors of perceived safety varied across dimensions: gender was a significant predictor of personal safety. At the same time, family financial status had a strong influence on perceptions of safety at public events. These findings offer valuable insights for designing targeted risk communication, inclusive policy initiatives, and institutional reforms that aim to enhance youth resilience, civic trust, and participatory security governance, ultimately contributing to long-term social sustainability.
Conclusions
This study provides a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on how young people in Serbia perceive personal safety. Utilising both descriptive and inferential statistical methods, the research highlights key aspects of perceived safety and examines the impact of socio-demographic, educational, and behavioural factors on these perceptions. By addressing the institutional and perceptual determinants of youth security, this study contributes to the discourse on sustainable development by highlighting the need for inclusive, trust-based, and participatory security strategies that reinforce social cohesion and democratic resilience. The findings presented in this study are not only theoretically significant but also practically valuable for public institutions, educational authorities, and civil society actors seeking to strengthen youth engagement, institutional trust, and proactive safety behaviours. By aligning security policy frameworks with students’ perceptions, stakeholders can foster more resilient and participatory societies.
The results of this study demonstrate that each of the proposed research questions was addressed through targeted statistical analysis, confirming that institutional trust and exposure to information are the most consistent predictors across multiple dimensions of perceived safety. Notably, gender differences were particularly relevant in personal safety perceptions. At the same time, financial status emerged as a significant factor in public space-related concerns. Civic engagement was associated with increased awareness but also heightened institutional scepticism. Descriptive analyses indicate that although youth generally feel safe in their immediate environments, particularly at home, they harbour significant concerns about crime, inadequate community support during emergencies, and a lack of trust in institutional responses. There is notable civic engagement and a willingness to join social movements, accompanied by scepticism towards media coverage and the management of protests by institutions. Additionally, young people display a heightened awareness of national threats such as organised crime, misinformation, and energy dependence, showcasing a sophisticated understanding of both established and emerging risks. Concerns related to digital security and privacy are pronounced. While many express support for surveillance technologies aimed at crime prevention, there is widespread scepticism regarding the effectiveness of data protection laws and personal control over digital information. Youth also report low confidence in institutional crisis management and communication efforts, identifying insufficient education, unreliable media, and doubts about the preparedness of public services and educational institutions. Trust in institutions and security policies remains notably low. Although political stability is considered crucial for national security, transparency, judicial efficacy, and citizen involvement in security governance receive relatively poor ratings. Trust is slightly higher towards the military and police, but overall perceptions convey disenchantment with institutional performance.
Inferential statistical analyses provide further insights into these trends. Gender differences are particularly significant in the realm of personal safety, with males reporting much higher safety perceptions. However, there are no substantial differences across most dimensions based on university type, participation in safety-related activities, or academic performance—except in digital security, where those not engaged in safety activities feel more secure.
Correlational analysis indicates that age and academic progress are negatively correlated with perceptions of safety, preparedness, and trust in institutions, suggesting increased scepticism with experience. Strong positive links exist between disaster preparedness and institutional trust, highlighting the relationship between these elements. Regression analyses identify a few significant predictors. Gender and financial status emerge as weak yet notable predictors of perceived safety and trust. At the same time, sources of information and civic engagement (e.g., voting) exert some influence on preparedness and confidence in institutions. Overall, the predictive capacity of the models is limited, with much variance in perceptions remaining unexplained.
Regarding the initial hypotheses, only partial support was found. The hypothesis positing that gender significantly influences perceptions of personal safety was upheld. Likewise, the notion that socio-economic status (i.e., material conditions) impacts perceptions of public event safety and institutional trust also received support. However, the hypotheses related to the broader impacts of academic characteristics, participation in safety-related activities, and media consumption were not consistently validated across all areas, resulting in a partial confirmation of the findings.
Together, these results imply that students’ perceptions of safety are influenced more by dynamic interactions among individual experiences, information contexts, and institutional trust than by static demographic traits. Future research should delve deeper into psychological, contextual, and experiential factors to foster a more comprehensive understanding of how young people perceive and navigate security in an increasingly complex world. Given that the sample was limited to university students, the findings should be interpreted with caution and complemented by future research involving broader youth cohorts, including non-academic and marginalised populations.
From a policy perspective, the findings underscore the importance of strengthening institutional communication strategies towards youth, particularly in digital and crisis contexts. Establishing participatory mechanisms—such as youth councils, peer-to-peer safety campaigns, or trust-building initiatives—may foster both perceived and actual security while contributing to broader social sustainability goals. These findings not only contribute to the academic discourse on youth and security but also offer concrete entry points for building inclusive, evidence-based safety policies in transitional societies.
How to cite
Cvetković, V. M., Lipovac, M., Renner, R., Stanarević, S., & Raonić, Z. (2025). A Predictive Framework for Understanding Multidimensional Security Perceptions Among Students in Serbia: The Role of Institutional, Socio-Economic, and Demographic Determinants of Sustainability. Sustainability, 17(11), 5030. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115030
