Cookies?
Library Header Image
LSE Research Online LSE Library Services

A routine activity approach to understand cybergrooming victimization among adolescents from six countries

Wachs, S, Michelsen, A, Wright, M, Gámez-Guadix, Manuel, Almendros, C, Kwon, Y, Yang, S, Sittichai, R, Singh, R, Biswal, R, Görzig, Anke and Yanagida, T (2020) A routine activity approach to understand cybergrooming victimization among adolescents from six countries. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 23 (4). pp. 218-224. ISSN 2152-2715

Full text not available from this repository.

Identification Number: 10.1089/cyber.2019.0426

Abstract

Little attention has been given academically to empirically tested theoretical frameworks that aim at measuring the risk of adolescents falling victim to cybergrooming. To this end, we have applied the routine activity theory (RAT) to investigate whether exposure to motivated offenders (PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom), capable guardianship (parental mediation strategies of Internet use), and target suitability (adolescents' online disclosure of private information) might predict cybergrooming victimization among adolescents. Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 5,938 adolescents from Germany, India, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, and the United States, ranging in age from 12 to 18 (M = 14.77, SD = 1.60), we found that PC/laptop ownership and Internet access in one's own bedroom, parental mediation, and online disclosure are all directly associated with cybergrooming victimization. Although instructive parental mediation is negatively related to online disclosure and cybergrooming victimization, restrictive mediation is positively related to both. In addition, online disclosure partially mediated the relationship between parental mediation and cybergrooming victimization. The analyses confirm the effectiveness of applying RAT to cybergrooming. Moreover, this study highlights the need for prevention programs, including lessons on age-appropriate information and communication technology usage and access, to educate parents on using instructive strategies of Internet mediation, and inform adolescents about how to avoid disclosing too much private information online. RAT could function as a theoretical framework for these programs.

Item Type: Article
Official URL: https://home.liebertpub.com/publications/cyberpsyc...
Additional Information: © 2020 Mary Ann Liebert
Divisions: Media and Communications
Subjects: T Technology
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2020 11:48
Last Modified: 28 Feb 2024 00:51
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/103264

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item