Adapting and Applying Offline Theory to Online Victimization: A Test of the Shadow of Sexual Assault Hypothesis with Fear of Online Victimization

ABSTRACT

The shadow of sexual assault hypothesis has received considerable support in explaining women’s fear of crime. However, this hypothesis has yet to be tested in relation to online victimization. Utilizing a sample of undergraduates, this study tests the shadow hypothesis in the context of the Internet by examining the impact of fear of unwanted online sexual advances on individuals’ fear of online victimization, generally. Findings indicate that men’s and women’s levels of fear of online victimization differ, with women being significantly more fearful of several types of online victimization. Multiple regression findings also show that the effects of fear of unwanted online sexual advances may account for the relationship between sex and fear of online victimization.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual assault
• shadow of sexual assault hypothesis
• fear of crime
• online victimization
• college students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Of the nonwhite respondents, approximately 5% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 3% were Black or African American, 1% were Hispanic, and 1% were another race/ethnicity.

2. Of the non-heterosexual respondents, approximately 2% were homosexual, 2% were bi-sexual, and 12% identified as another sexual orientation.