Abstract
College student use of the internet for online social networking purposes is increasing in popularity. Facebook is a social networking website used by college students, with estimates of over 7.5 million users spanning over 2,000 colleges and universities. Unfortunately, Facebook users can encounter some detrimental consequences, including fear of victimization. The purpose of the present study is to examine the correlates and structure of potential fear from using Facebook. Using self-report data from 224 college students at a southeastern university during the spring 2007 semester, we examine the link that low self-control has with perceived risk and with fear of online victimization among Facebook users. The results of the present study are discussed in the context of policy implications.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Hirschi (2004) argued that his measure does not include a measure of involvement. He goes on to suggest that involvement could be used in this study and other studies.
References
Alexy, E. M., Burgess, A. W., Baker, T., & Smoyak, S. A. (2005). Perceptions of cyberstalking among college students. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 5, 279–289.
Cassidy, J. (2006, May 15). Me media. The New Yorker, 50–59.
Ellison, N., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2006). Spatially bounded online social networks and social capital: The role of Facebook. Paper presented at the ICA conference, Dresden, Germany.
Ferraro, K. F. (1995). Fear of crime: Interpreting victimization risk. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Ferraro, K. F., & LaGrange, R. L. (1992). Are older people most afraid of crime? Reconsidering age differences in fear of victimization. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 47, 233–244.
Ferraro, K., & LaGrange, R. L. (1987). The measurement of fear of crime. Sociological Inquiry, 57, 70–101.
Fisher, B. S., & Sloan, J. J. (2003). Unraveling the fear of victimization among college women: Is the shadow of sexual assault hypothesis supported? Justice Quarterly, 20(3), 633–659.
Gibbs, J. J., Giever, D. M., & Higgins, G. E. (2002). A test of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime using structural equation modeling. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 30, 441–458.
Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press.
Higgins, G. E., Fell, B. D., & Wilson, A. L. (2006). Digital piracy: Assessing the contributions of an integrated self-control theory and social learning theory. Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law, and Society, 19, 3–22.
Hinduja, S. (2001). Correlates of Internet software piracy. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 17, 369–382.
Hirschi, T. (2004). Self-control and crime. In R. F. Baumeister, & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications. New York: Guilford Press.
Hollinger, R. C. (1993). Crime by computer: Correlates of software piracy and unauthorized access. Security Journal, 4, 2–12.
Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55.
Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
Madrid, A. (2005). ‘Offensive’ facebook.Com groups lead to Medill forum. The Daily Northwestern, 3, 9–10 April 11, 2005.
Martucci, B. (2005). As Facebook grows, more than just friends are watching. The Mac Weekly, 1, 13–15. December 9
Marshall, M., & Tong, A. (2005). Palo Alto, Calif.-based Facebook brings social networking online. San Jose Mercury News, 4, 3–4 August 29.
Mustaine, E., & Tewksbury, R. (1999). A routine activity theory explanation for women’s stalking victimizations. Violence Against Women, 5, 43–62.
Muthen, L. K., & Muthen, B. O. (1998–2004). Mplus users’guide (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Muthen and Muthen.
O’Keefe, M. (1997). Predictors of dating violence among high school students. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 12, 546–568.
Paquin, C. (2005). Administrators advise caution in Facebook postings. The Dartmouth. Retrieved (September 10, 2006) from http://www.thedartmouth.com/article.php?aid. November 21
Piquero, A. R., & Bouffard, J. (2007). Something old, something new: A preliminary investigation of Hirschi’s redefined self-control. Justice Quarterly, 24, 1–27.
Pratt, T. C., & Cullen, F. T. (2000). The empirical status of Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime: A meta-analysis. Criminology, 38, 931–964.
Ricketts, M. L. (2007). K-12 teachers’ perceptions of school policy and fear of school violence. The Journal of School Violence, 6, 45–67.
Schreck, C. (1999). Criminal victimization and low self-control: An extension and test of a general theory of crime. Justice Quarterly, 16, 633–654.
Schumacker, R. E., & Lomax, R. G. (1996). A beginners’ guide to structural equation modeling. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Sealy, W. (2005). What Facebook doesn’t tell you. The Flat Hat, Student Newspaper of The College of William and Mary, 9, 11–13 December 14.
Spitzberg, B. H., & Hoobler, G. (2002). Cyberstalking and the technologies of interpersonal terrorism. New Media & Society, 4, 71–92.
Stutzman, F. (2006). An evaluation of identity-sharing behavior in social network communities. Paper presented at the iDMAa and IMS Code Conference, Oxford, Ohio.
Woo, S. (2005). The Facebook: not just for students. The Brown Daily Herald, 10, 5–7 December 14.
Zelkowitz, R. (2005). Wasted: Facebook group causes controversy. The Emory Wheel Online. Retrieved (May 20, 2007) from http://www.emorywheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/22/48329c13eb4d8. November 22
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Higgins, G.E., Ricketts, M.L. & Vegh, D.T. The Role of Self-Control in College Student’s Perceived Risk and Fear of Online Victimization. Am J Crim Just 33, 223–233 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-008-9041-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-008-9041-3