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Victimization of the 21st Century: An Examination of Cyberstalking Victimization Using a Target Congruence Approach

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2019, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice.
Research on cyberstalking victimization has experienced growth and refinement over the past several years, yet there are still many questions about this phenomenon that remain unanswered. Due to conceptual and methodological concerns that characterize the existing literature, it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the prevalence of and predictors of cyberstalking victimization. Thus, the current study attempts to build upon previous studies and address the shortcomings evident in the existing literature. The purpose of this dissertation is four fold: (1) to estimate the prevalence of cyberstalking victimization among a general sample of individuals aged 18 to 25 years; (2) to extend the target congruence approach to cyberstalking victimization; (3) to determine if the target congruence approach is an empirically supported theoretical perspective for explaining cyberstalking victimization; and (4) to overcome some of the methodological limitations that characterize previous cyberstalking research. Using a sample of 1,500 Mechanical Turk workers and multiple binary logistic regression analyses, findings revealed moderate support for the application of the target congruence approach as an explanation for cyberstalking victimization. Specifically, multiple measures capturing each of the three target congruence elements (target vulnerability, target gratifiability, and target antagonism) consistently impacted risk of cyberstalking victimization across the multivariate models. Additionally, there is some evidence that suggests the pursued-pursuer relationship may moderate the relationship between the target congruence elements and cyberstalking victimization. Implications for theory, policy, prevention, and future research are provided based upon these findings.
Bonnie Fisher, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Kate Fox, PhD (Committee Member)
Joseph Nedelec, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Pamela Wilcox, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
224 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fissel, E. R. (2019). Victimization of the 21st Century: An Examination of Cyberstalking Victimization Using a Target Congruence Approach [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1553613508435002

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fissel, Erica. Victimization of the 21st Century: An Examination of Cyberstalking Victimization Using a Target Congruence Approach. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1553613508435002.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fissel, Erica. "Victimization of the 21st Century: An Examination of Cyberstalking Victimization Using a Target Congruence Approach." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1553613508435002

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)