Cross-Contextual Victimization and Fear: Examining the Effects of Online and Offline Victimization on Fear of Crime

• In Event: Perspectives on Online & Offline Victimization: Research using the 2021 Reactions to Crime Survey

Abstract

Cybercrime victimization is a growing and serious issue that warrants exploration and connection to existing bodies of literature that have previously focused on traditional crime. Furthermore, victimization research typically examines offline and online victimization separately instead of across both contexts (i.e., cross-contextually), limiting our understanding of how they may be connected. Using a nationally generalizable sample (N = 1,500), the present study addresses this gap in literature by examining how both online and offline victimization experiences impact participants’ fear of cybercrime, fear of offline crime, and overall fear of crime. Results show that victimization has a significant within and cross-contextual impact on all three fear of crime categories. Additionally, participants who experienced both online and offline victimization demonstrated a significant increase in overall fear of crime for each additional victimization they experienced. We find that other key covariates, such as time spent online, ideology, and demographics are also related to fear of crime and will be discussed along with implications.

Authors

• Rachel McNealey, School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University

• Camille Ingham, Pennsylvania State University

• Makayla Burden, Michigan State University