Fear of Crime Online? Examining the Effect of Risk, Previous Victimization, and Exposure on Fear of Online Interpersonal Victimization

Abstract

Research exploring the extent and nature of fear of crime has spanned decades; it has been examined in many contexts, among varied populations, and from different theoretical perspectives. However, researchers have been slow to estimate or explain individuals' fear of online crime. The current study is among the first to address this issue by examining experiences from a random sample of undergraduate students enrolled at a large public university. In particular, we explore the links between perceived risk, online victimization, and fear of online interpersonal victimization (OIPV) and how these relationships vary by the victim-offender relationship. The effects of online exposure and demographic characteristics were also estimated. Results suggest that perceived risk of OIPV was significantly related to fear of OIPV for all types of victim-offender relationships, while previous online victimization was significant for fear of OIPV by intimate partners and friends/acquaintances only.

The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself…and Crime: The Current State of the Fear of Crime Literature and Where It Should Go Next

“…Most researchers utilize 10-or 11-point scales; however, the mean levels of fear reported are relatively low, often below 5 (e.g. Fisher and Sloan 2003;Henson, Reyns, and Fisher 2013;LaGrange and Ferraro 1989). Are individuals' levels of fear really that low or do the levels of fear simply appear low because of the large scale?…”

When cybercrimes strike undergraduates

“…Henson et al [5] conducted an online survey of 838 undergraduate students at a large public university that looked at the effect of perceived risk of direct, indirect, and previous Online Interpersonal Victimization (OIPV) on the fear of OIPV by an intimate partner, friend/acquaintance, and stranger. The study found that perceived risk of OIPV had positive effects on all three types of victim-offender relationships, previous direct online victimization had a positive effect on fear of OIPV by an intimate partner, previous indirect online victimization had a negative effect on fear of OIPV by intimate partners and friends/acquaintances, while online exposure (i.e., Internet usage, usage of dating sites, online groups, instant messengers, and YouTube) did not have a statistically significant effect on any of the types of victim-offender relationships.…”

“…5 In exploratory research, structural models can be trimmed or built based on theoretical and/or empirical standards [25]. The initial model had a few non-significant effects, which were removed from the model.…”

Fear and Perceived Likelihood of Victimization in Traditional and Cyber Settings

“…Exploring contextual effects is important and can add to the small number of studies that have considered the potential variables influencing victimization and cyber victimization (e.g., Henson et al, 2013;Li, 2007;Roberts et al, 2013). …”

“…The role of the internet is of particular importance when considering research into fear of cybervictimization (Henson, Reyns & Fisher, 2013). This is because both perpetrators and victims are generally heavy internet users (Walrave & Heirman, 2011) and a high prevalence of cyber-victimization exists amongst university students (Radda & Ndubueze.…”