Sexual frustration, low self-control, and cybercrime victimization: A survey analysis of U.S. adults

Abstract

Research suggests that sexual frustration can increase people's willingness to engage in aggression, violence, or crime, but has not examined whether it also increases their risk of victimization. For this study, we examined the relationship between sexual frustration, low self-control, poor cyber hygiene, and cybercrime victimization based on a national survey of 1756 adults in the United States. Regression models indicated that even after accounting for demographic variables and low self-control, sexual frustration was positively associated with both cybercrime victimization and poor cyber hygiene. Mediation analyses suggested that sexual frustration, low self-control, and cyber hygiene are interconnected factors that may collectively provide a fuller explanation of cybercrime victimization risk than they do on their own. Overall, our results highlight the potential importance of sexual frustration in online environments where sexualized content is widespread and malicious actors can exploit users' motivations and vulnerabilities.