Predictors of Revictimization in Online Dating

Abstract

Introduction: While a significant association between childhood maltreatment and sexual victimization in adulthood has been established in previous research, it is unknown whether this also applies to the context of online dating. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether revictimization is common in online users and which mechanisms mediate this risk. Method: The participants were 413 heterosexual women aged between 18 and 35 who used mobile dating applications in the year before the assessment. The participants reported information on using mobile dating applications, motives for engaging in casual sex, protective dating strategies, and general motives for online dating. Results: Childhood maltreatment severity was positively related to both cyber and in-person sexual victimization severity. Motives related to regulating negative affect and self-esteem mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment severity and in-person sexual victimization severity in adulthood. Furthermore, those motives moderated the association between cyber and in-person sexual victimization. The effect of cyber victimization on in-person sexual victimization was stronger at higher levels of affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives compared to lower levels. The affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives were not related to protective dating strategies. Discussion: The results of the study imply that a history of childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for sexual victimization in adulthood among young heterosexual women who use online dating. One of the factors linking these variables in this population might be affect/self-esteem regulatory sex motives. Future studies should aim at replicating these associations prospectively.

Dating Apps: A New Emerging Platform for Sexual Harassment? A Scoping Review

“…One study demonstrated a link between experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps and a history of childhood maltreatment (Fereidooni et al, 2022). This link aligns with findings from previous studies establishing the notion that online sexual harassment can be a form of revictimization among individuals with a history of early childhood maltreatment (Fereidooni et al, 2022). Finally, a higher degree of rape myth acceptance was also found to be associated with experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps (Qu et al, 2021).…”

“…Alternatively, individuals with more perceived loneliness and less self-esteem may turn to dating apps in pursuit of external validation, which can result in their greater vulnerability to different forms of harassment. One study demonstrated a link between experiencing sexual harassment on dating apps and a history of childhood maltreatment (Fereidooni et al, 2022). This link aligns with findings from previous studies establishing the notion that online sexual harassment can be a form of revictimization among individuals with a history of early childhood maltreatment (Fereidooni et al, 2022).…”

“…In the case of dating apps, victims can feel guilty for registering to the dating app, flirting on the app, and for taking the images, for meeting with someone they met on the app, and fear to report the harassment because they fear being blamed for their actions. Finally, childhood maltreatment severity was found to be positively related to both cyber and in-person sexual victimization severity on dating apps (Fereidooni et al, 2022). Among the group of Chinese students in Qu et al's study, a higher degree of rape myth acceptance (endorsing myths that are prejudicial, stereotyped, and false beliefs about sexual assaults, rapists, and rape victims which often serve to excuse sexual aggression) was more likely to be associated with the experience of sexting victimization, but such an association was not found among the U.S. students (Qu et al, 2021).…”

Childhood Maltreatment and Revictimization: A Systematic Literature Review

“…These findings, partially supporting poorer risk detection in revictimized people, should be interpreted cautiously as leaving a risky situation with delay might not necessarily reflect poor risk detection, but rather different (motivation-based) behavior. For instance, risky signals in a sexual encounter might be ignored as regulating negative emotions or boosting self-esteem with sex is given priority (Fereidooni et al, 2022; Miron & Orcutt, 2014; Myers et al, 2006). Therefore, interaction between motivations for risky behavior and risk detection needs to be investigated.…”

Social epidemiology of online dating in U.S. early adolescents

“…Furthermore, studies suggest that online dating apps can be a platform to allow for the exchanging of sexually explicit or provocative content which is a risk factor for offline and online dating violence in adolescents [ 10 , 11 ]. Childhood maltreatment, potentially through online dating, is a risk factor for sexual victimization in adulthood among young heterosexual women who use online dating, further elucidating the potential long-term effects of online dating at a young age [ 12 ].…”