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ucin1273840781.pdf (557.39 KB)
ETD Abstract Container
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Being Pursued Online: Extent and Nature of Cyberstalking Victimization from a Lifestyle/Routine Activities Perspective
Author Info
Reyns, Bradford W.
Permalink:
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273840781
Abstract Details
Year and Degree
2010, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education : Criminal Justice.
Abstract
The field of stalking has experienced a great deal of growth and refinement over the last decade, but its online counterpart is still little understood. The study of cyberstalking has been challenged by conceptual issues (e.g., defining cyberstalking), a lack of data, and other methodological concerns (e.g., small sample sizes, obtaining sampling frames). The extent of cyberstalking victimization is not currently known, but estimates range from 3.7% to 31% of study participants in the few studies that have attempted to estimate its scope. However, because of definitional inconsistencies and methodological deficiencies in past work, comparisons across studies are difficult. The issue is further complicated by studies that have measured cyberstalking as method of pursuit for spatial stalkers. The current study is an attempt to build upon and overcome the shortcomings of past work in the area. Accordingly, the purpose of this dissertation is threefold: (1) to estimate the extent of cyberstalking among a sample of undergraduate students at a large urban university in the Midwest, using a definition of cyberstalking based on legal statutes and previous research; (2) to utilize the lifestyle/routine activities theory perspective to better understand correlates of victimization; and (3) to determine whether this theoretical framework can be used to explain victimization in cyberspace. Findings indicate that the number of online social networks an individual owns, the number of daily updates to those networks, use of AOL Instant Messenger (AOL IM), allowing strangers to access personal information online (e.g., adding strangers as friends to social networking sites), using online services designed to monitor online network activity (i.e., profile trackers), engaging in online deviance, and low self-control are significant predictors of cyberstalking victimization, suggesting moderate support for lifestyle/routine activities theory in explaining cyberstalking. Possible methods for preventing cyberstalking are discussed.
Committee
Bonnie Sue Fisher, PhD (Committee Chair)
Pamela Wilcox, PhD (Committee Member)
Francis Cullen, PhD (Committee Member)
Christopher Schreck, PhD (Committee Member)
Pages
193 p.
Subject Headings
Criminology
Keywords
Cyberstalking
;
Stalking
;
Victimization
;
Cybercrime
;
Routine Activity
;
Lifestyle
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Citations
Reyns, B. W. (2010).
Being Pursued Online: Extent and Nature of Cyberstalking Victimization from a Lifestyle/Routine Activities Perspective
[Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273840781
APA Style (7th edition)
Reyns, Bradford.
Being Pursued Online: Extent and Nature of Cyberstalking Victimization from a Lifestyle/Routine Activities Perspective.
2010. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation.
OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center
, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273840781.
MLA Style (8th edition)
Reyns, Bradford. "Being Pursued Online: Extent and Nature of Cyberstalking Victimization from a Lifestyle/Routine Activities Perspective." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1273840781
Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)
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Document number:
ucin1273840781
Download Count:
2,225
Copyright Info
© 2010, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.